Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)

I beg to move amendment No. 65, in

clause 5, page 3, line 31, leave out from '(1))' to end of line 32.

Mr David Taylor (North West Leicestershire, Labour/Co-operative)

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:

Amendment No. 54, in

clause 5, page 3, line 32, leave out 'six months' and insert 'two years'.

Amendment No. 69, in

clause 5, page 3, line 34, leave out 'within that period'.

Amendment No. 67, in

clause 5, page 3, line 35, leave out from 'certificate' to '(3)' in line 36.

Amendment No. 66, in

clause 5, page 3, line 35, leave out from 'certificate' to end of line 39.

Amendment No. 52, in

clause 5, page 3, line 36, leave out from 'time' to end of line 39.

Amendment No. 61, in

clause 5, page 3, line 36, leave out

'within the period specified in subsection 3'.

Amendment No. 11, in

clause 5, page 3, line 38, leave out 'six months' and insert 'two years'.

Amendment No. 68, in

clause 5, page 3, line 38, leave out subsection (3).

Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)

We come to this important group of amendments earlier than we had envisaged. Even the Government Whip, the hon. Member for Lewisham, East (Ms Prentice), will accept that it is not reasonable to complete my remarks in one and a half minutes.

Ms Bridget Prentice (Lewisham, East) (Lab) indicated assent.

Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)

I am grateful that the hon. Lady concedes that.

Ms Maria Eagle (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Minister for Disabled People), Department for Work and Pensions; Liverpool, Garston, Labour)

The hon. Gentleman could if he tried.

Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)

The Minister says that I could if I tried; I could move the amendment formally but I will not. It is worth briefly setting out what my amendments in the group would do, but I will leave it to others, such as the hon. Members for Birmingham, Selly Oak and for Daventry, to explain their positions.

The legislation includes several time periods involved with interim and full certificates. The first, which my amendment and others would not amend, is the six-month period after an interim certificate is issued during which someone may seek annulment of the marriage on the basis of the issuing of the certificate. The second, as set out in subsection (2), is the six-month period during which a marriage can be dissolved or annulled otherwise than through the procedure granted by the issue of an interim gender recognition certificate. That time period also applies in subsection (2)(b) if the person's spouse dies. The third, as set out in subsection (3), is the six months during which someone may make an application for a full gender recognition certificate—

It being twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock, The Chairman adjourned the Committee without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.

Adjourned till this day at half-past Two o'clock.