Clause 11 - Proposed civil partnership to be publicised
Civil Partnership Bill [Lords]
4:45 pm
Ms Jacqui Smith (Minister of State (Industry and the Regions and Deputy Minister for Women), Department of Trade and Industry; Redditch, Labour)
Clause 11 sets out which registration authorities must publicise relevant information of proposed civil partnerships during the waiting period. The Registrar General must also publicise that information. The waiting period is defined in clause 12 as a period of 15 days, beginning on the day after a notice of proposed civil partnership is recorded. However, that period may be shortened on application to the Registrar General, in accordance with clause 13. Under the standard procedure, it would be usual for both proposed civil partners to give notice of their intention to form a civil partnership. Those notices have to be publicised by the bodies listed in clause 11.
Government amendment No. 22 makes an addition to the list in clause 11. It requires any registration authority in whose area the proposed civil partner of a person giving notice has resided for the seven days before notice was given to publicise the relevant information. The amendment will ensure that relevant information is publicised in the area or areas where each notice is given, in the areas where each proposed civil partner resided prior to giving notice and in the area where the proposed civil partners intend to form their civil partnership. I hope that hon. Members will support it.