§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effects extending the provisions of the Civil Partnerships Bill to heterosexual couples. [147061]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 13 January 2004]: Civil partnership is aimed at same-sex couples who cannot obtain full legal recognition of their relationships. Opposite-sex couples can achieve this through marriage. There can be no real benefit of extending to opposite-sex couples the right to achieve legal recognition of their relationships when they already enjoy that opportunity.