§ MR. KNOWLES (Salford, W.)asked the Lord Advocate, Whether it is the fact that where one of two parties intending to marry resides in England and the other in Scotland, they may marry in England upon production of a certificate of proclamation of banns in Scotland, but that there is no similar provision enabling them to marry in Scotland; and, if such is the fact, whether, when the Bill is introduced by the Government for the purpose of dispensing with the presence of the Registrar at the celebration of marriages in Nonconformist places of worship, or at some other time, he proposes to authorize Superintendent Registrars of districts in England to issue certificates for the celebration of such marriages in Scotland, or otherwise remove the anomaly?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)In Scotland there is no statutory equivalent to the Act passed last Session recognizing certificates of banns published in Scotland as sufficient to legalize marriage in England. By custom, however, English certificates are generally recognized and accepted by the officiating clergyman; but, as I understand that occasionally some difficulty has arisen through clergymen demurring to accept English certificates, and as when it occurs it must undoubtedly create very serious inconvenience, I shall be prepared to propose a clause to remedy such inconvenience when any suitable Bill is brought in, which, I understand, in contemplation.