Unmarried Couples (Legal Rights)
Constitutional Affairs

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Photo of Mr Parmjit Dhanda

Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester, Labour)

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs

(1) what plans he has to extend legal rights to unmarried couples;

(2) what action he is taking to give property and pension rights to couples who choose not to marry.

Photo of Mr David Lammy

Mr David Lammy (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs; Tottenham, Labour)

On 30 June, my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Industry and the Regions and the Deputy Minister for Women and Equality, published 'Civil Partnership—a framework for the legal recognition of same sex couples'. It sets out Government proposals for the establishment of civil partnership registration for same sex couples, while also making clear that it is not proposed to extend this arrangement to unmarried opposite sex couples.

However, in recognition of the extent of misunderstanding about the status of 'common law marriage', I am exploring, together with other relevant colleagues, how best to undertake an information campaign so that unmarried couples can be more fully and accurately informed about their position.

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