§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will introduce legislation so that greater protection is given to unmarried partners following the break-up of a relationship and in particular so that they have additional rights in the apportioning of property if that person's name is not formally registered in joint ownership of that property. [5562]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe Government have no current plans to legislate in this area. However, the Law Commission is currently reviewing the law as it relates to the property rights of people who share homes. This covers a wide category of person including all those who live in the same household other than by reason of one of them being the other's employee, tenant, lodger or boarder. It is expected that the Law Commission will be in a position to publish a consultation paper in the spring of 2002. The Government will of course be interested in the Law Commission's proposals, and in the response to them.