§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to introduce legislation to lower the minimum age for marriage in England to 16 years, and to ensure that parental consent should not be required as a preliminary to the marriage of young persons.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe minimum age for marriage in England and Wales is already 16. The Government have no proposals for dispensing with the requirement there for parental consent up to the age of 18.