Commons debates Private Members’ Bills

• Video and Audio: Marriage (Wales) Bill
• Commons Hansard: Marriage (Wales) Bill
• Bills before Parliament: Marriage (Wales) Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill

Marriage (Wales) Bill

The Bill will change the legal requirements for getting married in the Church of Wales.

At the moment at least one of those getting married has to live in the parish where the wedding is to take place. This Bill would allow people with a qualifying connection to hold their wedding there, even if they do not live within the parish.

The Church of England Marriage Measure 2008 made similar changes to the requirements for getting married in the Church of England.

Key areas

A person would have a qualifying connection to a parish if he or she:

• was baptised in that parish
• had his or her confirmation entered in the register book of confirmation for any church or chapel in that parish
• has ever had his or her usual place of residence in that parish for a period of at least six months
• has ever habitually attended public worship in that parish for a period of at least six months
• has a parent who has, during that person’s lifetime, had their usual place of residence in that parish for a period of at least six months, or habitually attended public worship in that parish for the same period
• has a parent or grandparent who got married in that parish

People who want to get married in these circumstances would have to prove their qualifying connection.

The Bill passed its report stage and third reading and, as it has already been through the House of Lords, it has now completed all its parliamentary stages.

Sunbeds Regulation Bill

MPs also debated the report stage of the Sunbeds Regulation Bill, sponsored by Julie Morgan, Labour MP for Cardiff North.

• Video and Audio: Sunbeds Regulation Bill
• Commons Hansard: Sunbeds Regulation Bill
• Bills before Parliament: Sunbeds Regulation Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill

The Bill would mean that sunbed businesses could not offer their services to those under 18 years old. Local authorities would enforce the new regulation. The Government would have powers to impose further conditions on commercial sunbed use, including the need for supervision, provision of information on health risks, and eye protection.

The Bill passed its report stage and third reading and now moves to the House of Lords.

Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Bill

The report stage of the Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Bill was also debated. The Bill was sponsored by Malcolm Wicks, Labour MP for Croydon North.

• Video and Audio: Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Bill
• Commons Hansard: Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Bill
• Bills before Parliament: Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill

The Bill - which has government support - completed all its Commons stages in the 2008-09 parliamentary session, but was not able to finish its passage through the Lords before the session ended.

It has been re-introduced, with only minor changes and is the latest in a series of measures which have reformed and modernised the regulatory position and commercial organisation of what is often described as the third sector in financial services.

This is the loose grouping of organisations with mutual status and those which reflect their industrial origins such as the industrial and provident societies and credit unions.

The Bill passed its report stage and third reading and, as it has already been through the House of Lords, it has now completed all its parliamentary stages.

Other Bills

A number of other Bills were rejected or adjourned until another day.

Private Members' Bills

Private Members' Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs and Members of the Lords who aren't government ministers. As with other Public Bills their purpose is to change the law as it applies to the general population.