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Written question asked by Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru) on Tuesday, 7 July 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 July 2020 (named day). It was answered by Alex Chalk (Conservative) on Monday, 13 July 2020 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Marriage: Humanism

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent progress has been made on granting legal recognition to humanist marriages; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling Senedd Cymru to legalise humanist marriages in Wales.

Answer

The Government announced in June 2019 that the Law Commission will conduct a fundamental review of the law on how and where people can legally marry in England and Wales. As part of that review, the Government invited the Law Commission to make recommendations about how marriage by humanist and other non-religious belief organisations could be incorporated into a revised or new scheme for all marriages that is simple, fair and consistent. The Government looks forward to publication of the Law Commission’s consultation paper in September and, following the final report, will decide on provision on the basis of the Law Commission's recommendations.

Marriage law remains a reserved matter.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
70334
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Marriage Wales Humanism
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk