§ Lord Young of Dartingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many marriages have taken place on licensed premises (as opposed to churches and registry offices) since the new system of licensed premises was introduced; and whether the number of church ceremonies and the number of marriages taking place in registry offices have fallen over this period. [HL1069]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter to Lord Young of Dartington from the Director of the Office for National Statistics, Dr. T . Holt, dated 20 March 1998.
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of marriages taking place on licensed premises.
The Marriage Act 1994 enabled local authorities to approve premises, such as hotels and stately homes, for the solemnisation of civil marriage ceremonies. This provision came into effect on 1 April 1995. Since then there has been a fall in the number of both religious ceremonies and civil marriages taking place in Register Offices. Provisional data are shown in the table below.
Number1of religious marriages and civil marriages in approved premises and Register Offices, England and Wales, 1995–96 and 1996–97 Civil Marriages Period Approved Premises Register Office Religious Marriages Total April 1995-March 1996 4,107 151,138 124,745 279,990 April 1996-March 1997 15,341 146,260 113,917 275,518 1 The data are taken from administrative returns to the Registrar General.