The Government continues to study the evidence, to assess options for improving protections for Muslim women on the breakdown of a marriage that is not legally recognised.

Muslims are free to enter into a legally valid marriage in their place of worship under the same provisions that apply to most other religious groups. The Government recognises that there are complex reasons that some do not, including conscious choice. We are considering the issues, but we have not seen evidence that changing the law would necessarily address the concern.

The UK Government has demonstrated its commitment tomarriagefor same sex couples by introducing it for England and Wales, and haswelcomedits introduction in other jurisdictions.

The UK Government recognises and respects the devolution settlement in Northern Ireland. The constitutional arrangements in place mean that any decision to extend marriage to same-sex couples in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland does not have the power under section 24 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to give direction to the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland to secure their compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.

The UK Government recognises and respects the devolution settlement in Northern Ireland and in any event does not have power under section 24 to secure full compliance in Northern Ireland with its obligations under the Convention in relation to equal marriage, blasphemy and defamation.

Under section 26 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (NIA) the Secretary of State may by order direct that action be taken by a Northern Ireland Minister or department if required for the purpose of giving effect to international obligations. However, international obligations in this context are defined as “any international obligations of the United Kingdom other than obligations to observe and implement EU law or the Convention rights” (Section 98 of the NIA). As such, the power under section 26 cannot be used for the purpose of bringing about action in Northern Ireland to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Within the United Kingdom’s constitutional arrangements, responsibility for legislating on the subject of marriage in relation to Northern Ireland has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and any change in the law is a matter for that Assembly. The situation in Italy is not comparable with the situation in Northern Ireland where civil partnerships are available to same-sex couples. Italy provides no legal recognition of same-sex relationships either through a civil union/registered partnership or through marriage.

The Government’s definition of domestic violence and abuse does not explicitly include demanding a dowry. As set out in Written Answer (HL2550), the Government is clear that domestic violence and abuse can involve coercive and controlling behaviour, including dowry abuse and other forms of financial abuse.

The Government is clear that domestic violence and abuse does not just mean physical violence. It can also involve coercive and controlling behaviour, including dowry abuse and other forms of financial abuse. The cross-Government definition of domestic violence and abuse encompasses, but is not limited to, psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. This definition is used by Government departments to inform policy development, and other agencies, such as the police, to inform the identification of domestic violence cases.

We have recently consulted on strengthening the law around domestic violence and abuse and are considering our response. Our consideration will include whether there should be a specific offence of domestic abuse and if so, what patterns of behaviour should constitute such abuse.

The Government is clear that domestic violence and abuse does not just mean physical violence. It can also involve coercive and controlling behaviour, including dowry abuse and other forms of financial abuse. The cross-Government definition of domestic violence and abuse encompasses, but is not limited to, psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. This definition is used by Government departments to inform policy development, and other agencies, such as the police, to inform the identification of domestic violence cases.

We have recently consulted on strengthening the law around domestic violence and abuse and are considering our response. Our consideration will include whether there should be a specific offence of domestic abuse and if so, what patterns of behaviour should constitute such abuse.

The Government has consulted on whether the law should be changed to allow legally valid humanist and potentially other non-religious belief marriages. We are considering the responses we received and the implications for marriage law and practice if a change were to be made. We plan to publish the Government’s response to the review before 1 January 2015.

The Government is committed to ensuring that couples wishing to convert their civil partnership in to a marriage can do so from 10 December 2014.

The draft Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Conversion of Civil Partnership) Regulations 2014, which were laid in the House on 3^rd July 2014, provide for a simple conversion process, which is not, and was never envisaged to be, a marriage ceremony. The draft regulations were prepared in accordance with the provision made by Section 9 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, in particular subsections (4) and (5), which was debated at length in both Houses of Parliament during the passage of the Bill.

The process was conceived in line with responses from those in civil partnerships to the public consultation in 2012, which called for a simple, straightforward and low cost way for couples to convert their civil partnership into a marriage. Stakeholders expressed a desire for a conversion process which would not undermine the significance of the original civil partnership and which would avoid creating undue new burdens or costs for couples. Accordingly the conversion process was not envisaged to be a process which would replicate a marriage ceremony, whether religious or secular, but was rather intended to be an easy administrative process by which couples converted their civil partnerships and had these recognised as marriages from the date the civil partnership was formed. Couples who did want to celebrate the conversion with family and friends could choose to hold some form of non-statutory celebratory ceremony following the conversion itself, if they so wished.

We continue to listen to the views expressed by stakeholders during the implementation of the Act. We have heard views articulated by stakeholders in recent weeks raising concerns with the conversion process as set out in the draft regulations as laid and in particular regarding the possibility of incorporating religious elements within conversions. We will consider these views and whether suitable options exist for addressing them within the legal framework established by the Act over the summer.

The Government is committed to ensuring that couples wishing to convert their civil partnership in to a marriage can do so from 10 December 2014.

The draft Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Conversion of Civil Partnership) Regulations 2014, which were laid in the House on 3^rd July 2014, provide for a simple conversion process, which is not, and was never envisaged to be, a marriage ceremony. The draft regulations were prepared in accordance with the provision made by Section 9 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, in particular subsections (4) and (5), which was debated at length in both Houses of Parliament during the passage of the Bill.

The process was conceived in line with responses from those in civil partnerships to the public consultation in 2012, which called for a simple, straightforward and low cost way for couples to convert their civil partnership into a marriage. Stakeholders expressed a desire for a conversion process which would not undermine the significance of the original civil partnership and which would avoid creating undue new burdens or costs for couples. Accordingly the conversion process was not envisaged to be a process which would replicate a marriage ceremony, whether religious or secular, but was rather intended to be an easy administrative process by which couples converted their civil partnerships and had these recognised as marriages from the date the civil partnership was formed. Couples who did want to celebrate the conversion with family and friends could choose to hold some form of non-statutory celebratory ceremony following the conversion itself, if they so wished.

We continue to listen to the views expressed by stakeholders during the implementation of the Act. We have heard views articulated by stakeholders in recent weeks raising concerns with the conversion process as set out in the draft regulations as laid and in particular regarding the possibility of incorporating religious elements within conversions. We will consider these views and whether suitable options exist for addressing them within the legal framework established by the Act over the summer.

Section 9 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 provides that civil partners may convert their civil partnership into marriage under regulations to be made by my Right Honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Her Majesty’s Government is working hard to ensure that couples wanting to convert their civil partnerships into marriages are able to do so as soon as possible. The aim is to do this before the end of 2014.