Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill — Report (1st Day) (Continued) — 8 Jul 2013 at 22:45

Amendment 7

Moved by Baroness Meacher

7: After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause-

“Regulations

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the Registrar General to approve and permit organisations that are registered charities principally concerned with advancing or practising a non-religious belief to solemnise marriages according to their usages on the authority of a superintendent registrar’s certificate, and for related purposes.

(2) The regulations shall specify that such marriages may not take place in register offices, but may in particular-

(a) define minimum requirements any such organisation must meet before it may be considered for such approval;

(b) define the procedures for the appointment of registering officers by such organisations, for the issue and custody of marriage register books, for the solemnisation and registering of marriages, and for related matters, and in these matters the regulations shall follow where convenient the several precedents to be found in the Marriage Act 1949;

(c) create criminal offences of a kind similar to, and with the same maximum penalties as, offences under Part IV of the Marriage Act 1949;

(d) include incidental or consequential provisions (which may include provisions amending an enactment);

(e) include transitional provision.

(3) The regulations under subsection (2)(a) must include provisions concerning whether an organisation-

(a) is a registered charity principally concerned with advancing or practising a non-religious belief;

(b) has been in continuous existence for at least 10 years;

(c) has been performing celebrations of marriage and other ceremonies for its members for at least five years, such ceremonies being rooted in its belief system;

(d) has in place written procedures for the selection, training and accreditation of persons to conduct solemnisations of marriages; and

(e) appears to the Registrar General to be of good repute.

(4) The regulations shall extend to England and Wales.

(5) The regulations-

(a) shall be made by statutory instrument, and

(b) may not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

(6) The Secretary of State must lay these regulations before Parliament within six months of this Act coming into force.”

Debate in Parliament | Source |