---

Home Office

Answer

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if arrangements for the implementation of the marriage aspects of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 have been made; and if he will make a statement. [143117] Mr. Straw: The marriage powers in section 24 and Part IX of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, will come into effect on 1 January 2001. In support of this, The Reporting of Suspicious Marriages (Scotland) Regulations 2000 and The Reporting of Suspicious Marriages (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2000 were made on 8 December. These provide for the reporting of suspicious marriages in Scotland and Northern Ireland to the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND). The Reporting of Suspicious Marriages and the Registration of Marriages (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2000 were made on 29 November. These regulations provide for the reporting of suspicious marriages in England and Wales to IND, and prescribe procedures for the Registrar General for England and Wales to waive or reduce the new 15 day waiting period, and various consequential amendments to forms. The related Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Fees)(Amendment) Order 2000 was laid before Parliament on 30 November. This Order prescribes the fees payable for the entry of a notice of marriage in the marriage notice book and for an application to the Registrar General to waive or reduce the 15 day waiting period.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

359 c255-6W;359 c253-4W; 143117

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Fees and charges Immigration Marriage Sham marriage Registration of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships Statutory instruments

Legislation

Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk