All responses to the equal marriage consultation were treated as individual responses for the analysis of the data exercise and were taken into account as part of the Government's response. This included around 75,000 responses identified as being part of a campaign. Where responses were received from organisations who described themselves as such, these were coded as organisational responses to allow more detailed exploration of the points raised. Petitions were not treated as responses to the consultation but these were qualitatively considered and are set out in Annex B of the Government's response. This was published on 11 December 2012. The decision on classification of the responses was agreed by Ministers.

The Government have always been clear that no religious organisation or individual minister will be forced to marry same-sex couples. The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, which was introduced into Parliament on 24 January and published on 25 January, contains a quadruple lock of explicit legal protections for religious organisations and ministers which will allow them to continue to operate within their doctrines and beliefs as they do now.

The European Convention on Human Rights protects the rights of religious organisations and their members. Any case before the court would be brought against the UK Government, not a religious organisation. Our view is that the court would be bound to give priority to the rights of a religious organisation under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. We are confident that there is no legal precedent requiring religious organisations to marry same-sex couples.

As has been the case under successive Administrations, it is practice not to disclose the agendas of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees.

The proposals relating to the Church of England arise from its unique position as the Established Church. First, it has a legal duty to marry parishioners in their parish church. The Church of England has confirmed it does not want to conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies; therefore specific provision is needed so that the duty to marry parishioners does not apply in the case of same-sex couples.

Second, the Church of England’s canon law is part of the law of the land. We must therefore ensure that the proposed legislation is not in conflict with canon law.

Similar provisions are simply not necessary for other religious bodies because they do not have a legal duty to marry parishioners; and their religious law is not part of the law of the land.

We are in discussions with the Church in Wales about how the legislation should apply to it.