This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Responses to civil partnerships
05/02/2004
The Executive today published an
analysis of the responses to its consultation on the
devolved aspects of a UK civil partnership registration
scheme for same-sex couples.
The consultation complemented the wider UK Government's
consultation paper on civil partnership registration for
same sex couples in England and Wales published in June
last year.
Welcoming publication of the analysis by The Robert
Gordon University, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson
said:
"Last September I announced the Executive's intention to
ensure that any civil partnership registration scheme
agreed for England and Wales should also be available for
same sex couples in Scotland.
"While the main considerations in developing an
appropriate package of rights and responsibilities are
reserved to Westminster - such as pensions, benefit and
taxation - there are a number of issues where
responsibility is devolved, for example, family law and
other consequences for Scots law.
"The analysis of responses published today shows that 86
per cent of all respondents agreed in principle with the
proposed introduction of civil partnerships. There was
also a high level of support (74 per cent) for our proposal
to allow Westminster to take the legislative lead.
"We will now carefully consider the detail of this
analysis and respond to the points that it raises, before
the introduction of a UK Civil Partnerships Bill.
"As we indicated last year, will therefore seek the
Scottish Parliament's agreement to including Scottish
provisions in a UK Civil Partnerships Bill when one is
brought forward."
The consultation paper was distributed to a wide range
of interests including lesbian and gay groups, faith
groups, local authorities, and NHS Trusts from 30 September
2003 and comments were invited by 5 December 2003.
The consultation paper provided fuller details and
background to civil partnership registration and the
reasoning underpinning our preference for a UK legislative
approach. The paper set out the substantive policy issues
associated with civil partnership registration and where
these are devolved and indicates how these will apply to
registered partners. This covered the formal requirements,
registration and dissolution, the family law consequentials
and other Scots law consequentials.
This consultation paper followed a paper by the UK
Government, published on 30 June 2003, on their proposals
for a civil partnership registration scheme in England and
Wales. Our proposals are similar to those expressed by the
UK Government but reflect the detailed differences in Scots
law and devolved policy. Our intention is to use the UK
Government's Civil Partnership Registration Bill to
legislate for Scotland.