New Clause 3 — Conscientious objection: transitional arrangments

Oral Answers to Questions — Work and Pensions – in the House of Commons at 7:00 pm on 20 May 2013.

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‘(1) No person shall be under any duty, whether by contract or by statutory or other legal requirement, to conduct a marriage to which he has a conscientious objection if he is employed as a registrar of marriages on the date this Act comes in force.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a “conscientious objection” exists where the refusal to conduct a marriage is only that it concerns a same sex couple, and is based on the person’s sincerely held religious or other beliefs.

(3) This section is without prejudice to the duty of a registration authority to ensure that there is a sufficient number of registrars and superintendent registrars in that area to carry out the required functions.

(4) In any legal proceedings the burden of proof of conscientious objection shall rest on the person claiming to rely on it.’.— (Mr Burrowes.)

Brought up, and read the First time.

Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:—

The House proceeded to a Division.

Photo of Lindsay Hoyle Lindsay Hoyle Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Ways and Means, Chair, Panel of Chairs, Chairman of Ways and Means, Chair, Panel of Chairs

Will the Serjeant at Arms investigate the delay in the No Lobby and see if he can unblock it?

The House having divided:

Ayes 150, Noes 340.

Division number 6 Work and Pensions — New Clause 3 — Conscientious objection: transitional arrangments

Aye: 149 MPs

No: 339 MPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

Tellers

No: A-Z by last name

Tellers

Abstained: 1 MP

Abstained: A-Z by last name

Question accordingly negatived.