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Written question asked by Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 17 January 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 January 2024 (named day). It was answered by Mike Freer (Conservative) on Wednesday, 24 January 2024 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Marriage

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government is taking steps to raise awareness of the legal distinctions between (a) marriage, (b) civil partnership and (c) cohabiting.

Answer

It is important that people are aware of the legal distinctions between getting married, forming a civil partnership and living together as cohabitants. The Government has already taken steps in this area. The Department for Education’s statutory guidance on relationships education includes the need for schools to ensure that pupils are aware of what marriage is, including its legal status and the legal status of other types of long-term relationship. The Government is also reviewing the information currently available to the public on the legal rights afforded to spouses, civil partners, and cohabiting couples.

The Government considers that existing work underway on the law of marriage and divorce, which are directly relevant to issues concerning cohabitants, must conclude before considering any change to the law in respect of the rights of cohabitants on relationship breakdown.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
10324
Session
2023-24
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Civil partnerships Cohabitation Marriage
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk