§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what further consideration he has given to the form of service, person performing the service, authorised buildings and greater flexibility in the arrangements for secular marriages; if he will now consider introducing legislation to enable secular marriages to be carried out by magistrates, mayors or provosts, to allow them to take place in civic and other specified buildings, and to allow greater flexibility in the services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellThe proposals in Cm. 939 are designed to give greater flexibility in the form of civil marriage ceremony and the choice of venues where such ceremonies may be conducted. The Government intend to introduce legislation to give effect to those and other proposals in the White Paper as soon as other parliamentary business allows.
The Government have no plans to allow civil marriages and the attendant responsibilities to be carried out by anyone other than registration officers.