§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many polygamous marriages there are in the UK. [24428]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 8 January 2002]: We do not collect information on the number of households where there is more than one wife. However, bigamy is a criminal offence under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. This legislation covers all marriages which take place in England, Wales or Northern Ireland or by United 99W Kingdom citizens abroad. The number of defendants proceeded against in England and Wales in 2000 for bigamy is given in the table.
Number proceeded against Number found guilty Male 14 10 Female 3 2 Total 17 12 Moreover, even if a couple has the legal capacity to enter into a polygamous marriage overseas and the marriage is valid in the country where it is celebrated, the Immigration Act 1988 prevents a person from bringing more than one spouse to settle with him or her in the United Kingdom.