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Lords examines Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Bll

8 March 2019

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The Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Bill had its third reading, a chance to 'tidy up' the bill and make changes, in the Lords on Wednesday 7 March.

This is a private member's bill. A private member's bill is a type of public bill (that affects the public). Private members' bills must go through the same set of procedures as other public bills.

No changes were suggested to the bill ahead of third reading. Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative) made a statement on the bill at the conclusion of its Lords stages.

The bill now returns to the Commons for its consideration of Lords amendments.

The aim of this bill is to allow opposite sex couples to enter a civil partnership and the registration of the names of the mother of each party in a marriage or civil partnership. It also requires the Secretary of State to provide a report on whether, and if so how, the law ought to be changed to require or permit the registration of pregnancy losses which cannot currently be registered as still-births and gives coroners power to investigate stillborn deaths.

Lords report stage: Friday 1 March

Members discussed allowing the Church of England and the Church in Wales to solemnize the marriage of a same sex couple and the marriage of same-sex couples in Northern Ireland.

Lords committee stage: Friday 1 February

Members discussed subjects including the right of persons not of the same-sex to form a civil partnership in England and Wales, removal of the exemption for members of the clergy to solemnize the marriage of a same -sex couple and regulations making the marriage of same-sex couples in Northern Ireland lawful.

Second reading

The Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Bill had its second reading, the key debate on the draft law's purpose and principles, on 18 January.

Lords news: Private member's bills January 2019

Further information

Image: House of Lords 2018 / Photography by Roger Harris