§ Mr. DhandaTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to extend eligibility for civil injuries compensation to the bereaved partner in an unmarried co-habiting relationship following the death of their partner. [125969]
§ Mr. LammyUnder the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, an opposite sex cohabitant of a person who has died as a result of another person's negligence is entitled to claim for financial loss as a dependant if he or she had lived with the deceased partner for at least two years prior to the death. The Government's consultation paper "Civil Partnership: A framework for the legal recognition of same sex couples" proposes that same sex couples who438W register a partnership should be eligible to claim for financial loss and bereavement damages in the same way that spouses can.
The Law Commission in its report "Claims for Wrongful Death" has recommended that other same sex and opposite sex cohabitants who can show dependency should also be entitled to claim. The Commission has also recommended that same sex and opposite sex cohabitants who have lived together for at least two years prior to the death should be entitled to an award of bereavement damages. The Government is currently considering these proposals.
§ Mr. DhandaTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what action he is taking to extend eligibility for civil injuries compensation to the children of parents in an unmarried co-habiting relationship following the death of one of their parents. [125971]
§ Mr. LammyUnder the Fatal Accidents Act 1976, any child of a deceased person where that person has died as a result of another person's negligence is entitled as a dependant to claim damages for any financial loss suffered. The Law Commission in its report "Claims for Wrongful Death" has recommended that children of the deceased should also be entitled to an award of bereavement damages. The Government is currently considering this proposal.