Examination of Witnesses

Part of Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:00 pm on 12 February 2013.

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Photo of Chris Bryant Chris Bryant Shadow Minister (Home Affairs) 12:00, 12 February 2013

That makes me feel as if my civil partnership is not the gold standard, and I gently suggest that the Secretary of State might want to rethink the way she talks about that matter.

Getting down to the nitty-gritty, the Government have included a small provision in relation to adultery. Will the Secretary of State explain why they have put anything about that in the Bill at all, as previously statute law has not referred to adultery? Is she happy with the bizarre anomaly whereby a gay man cannot commit adultery with another man, but can with a woman?