Clause 170 - Grounds on which civil partnership is voidable
Civil Partnership Bill [Lords]
11:00 am
Mr Christopher Chope (Shadow Minister, Environment and Transport; Christchurch, Conservative)
I agree with the hon. Lady. We are not at odds on the matter, and I was quoting figures only to indicate that the problem is widespread. At present, if a party to a marriage, unknown to the other party, is carrying a sexually transmitted disease, that is a means of making that marriage null and void. We are not talking of something fanciful because the figures show that under this Government—this is not a party political point but a fact—such cases have become more commonplace. It is important that we should extend the same protection to those engaged in civil partnerships that we extend to those in lawful marriage.