---

The Lord Bishop of Winchester: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. I apologise that I had to be somewhere else earlier today.

I was surprised to hear the noble Baroness mention marriage. It seems to me that, throughout the passage of the Bill so far, the Government have taken pains to say that the proposed civil partnership is not an analogy with marriage. It has nothing in it about permanence nor about exclusivity and so, on both grounds, it seems to me that the Government are right to say that.

However, it is curious that all this is being done in respect of a partnership which is quite specifically undefined. It seems to me that the last thing it can be right for the Minister to do is to draw parallels with marriage at this stage.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My Lords, let me deal with the two issues raised by the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Winchester in relation to permanence and exclusivity.

It is clear from the very nature of the relationships recognised in the Bill that the provisions relate to long-term partnerships. The dissolution provisions, the nullity provisions, and so on, make it clear that we are dealing with long-term relationships. As to exclusivity, it is clear from the provisions that a person can enter into only one civil partnership at any given time. He or she is not entitled to have more than one relationship while in the civil partnership. So, in relation to permanence and exclusivity, I disagree with the right reverend Prelate.

If the civil partnership is to be available to those within the bounds of consanguinity, the whole nature of the family and the family relationship will change significantly. The rights and responsibilities which are given to a civil partner are very different indeed from the rights and responsibilities which would be given to a family member. It is in that sense that I made my comments about the way in which these matters are put together.

A civil partnership is not a financial deal or a matter of tax avoidance; it is a new legal relationship which gives legal recognition to same-sex couples who have found the person they wish to share their lives with, separate from any family ties. It is the purpose of the Bill to give that legal recognition to same-sex couples in their life together as a couple. That is a fundamental part and purpose of the Bill before us.

It is a partnership that cannot be described as a commercial contract or simply an arrangement of convenience. Those who enter into these partnerships will have to take the rights and responsibilities extremely seriously because they are quite onerous. I ask the noble Baroness not to press the amendment.

Baroness O'Cathain: My Lords, I thank everyone who has taken part in this very good debate. I have no intention of spending any more time on it. I shall write
 
24 Jun 2004 : Column 1389
 
to all noble Lords who have made comments and asked me questions after I have read Hansard. I beg leave to test the opinion of the House.

On Question, Whether the said amendment (No. 3) shall be agreed to?

Their Lordships divided: Contents, 148; Not-Contents, 130.

Division No. 1

CONTENTS
Ackner, L.
Allenby of Megiddo, V.
Alton of Liverpool, L.
Ampthill, L.
Anelay of St Johns, B.
Armstrong of Ilminster, L.
Arran, E.
Astor, V.
Attlee, E.
Bagri, L.
Bell, L.
Biffen, L.
Blatch, B.
Brennan, L.
Bridges, L.
Brooke of Sutton Mandeville, L.
Brougham and Vaux, L.
Burnham, L.
Byford, B.
Campbell of Croy, L.
Carlisle of Bucklow, L.
Chadlington, L.
Cobbold, L.
Colwyn, L.
Cope of Berkeley, L.
Coventry, Bp.
Cox, B.
Craig of Radley, L.
Crickhowell, L.
Cumberlege, B.
Dean of Harptree, L.
Dearing, L.
Denham, L.
Dixon-Smith, L.
Donaldson of Lymington, L.
Eden of Winton, L.
Elles, B. [Teller]
Elliott of Morpeth, L.
Elton, L.
Erroll, E.
Feldman, L.
Fitt, L.
Fookes, B.
Forsyth of Drumlean, L.
Freyberg, L.
Gardner of Parkes, B.
Geddes, L.
Glenarthur, L.
Goschen, V.
Greenway, L.
Griffiths of Fforestfach, L.
Hannay of Chiswick, L.
Harris of High Cross, L.
Hayhoe, L.
Henley, L.
Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, L.
Home, E.
Hooson, L.
Howe of Aberavon, L.
Howe of Idlicote, B.
Jauncey of Tullichettle, L.
Jellicoe, E.
Jopling, L.
Kalms, L.
Kilclooney, L.
Kimball, L.
Kingsland, L.
Knight of Collingtree, B.
Laird, L.
Lawson of Blaby, L.
Listowel, E.
Liverpool, Bp.
Liverpool, E.
Lucas, L.
Luke, L.
Lyell, L.
McColl of Dulwich, L.
Mackay of Clashfern, L.
Maginnis of Drumglass, L.
Mancroft, L.
Masham of Ilton, B.
Mayhew of Twysden, L.
Miller of Hendon, B.
Molyneaux of Killead, L.
Monro of Langholm, L.
Monson, L.
Montrose, D.
Moore of Wolvercote, L.
Moran, L.
Morris of Aberavon, L.
Murton of Lindisfarne, L.
Northbourne, L.
Northbrook, L.
O'Cathain, B. [Teller]
Oliver of Aylmerton, L.
Palumbo, L.
Park of Monmouth, B.
Parkinson, L.
Patten, L.
Pearson of Rannoch, L.
Perry of Southwark, B.
Peterborough, Bp.
Pilkington of Oxenford, L.
Platt of Writtle, B.
Plumb, L.
Plummer of St. Marylebone, L.
Quinton, L.
Quirk, L.
Rawlings, B.
Rawlinson of Ewell, L.
Rees, L.
Rees-Mogg, L.
Renton, L.
Rix, L.
Rochester, Bp.
St. John of Bletso, L.
Saltoun of Abernethy, Ly.
Seccombe, B.
Selborne, E.
Selsdon, L.
Sharples, B.
Shaw of Northstead, L.
Simon of Glaisdale, L.
Skelmersdale, L.
Slim, V.
Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, L.
Southwell, Bp.
Stevens of Ludgate, L.
Stoddart of Swindon, L.
Stokes, L.
Strange, B.
Strathclyde, L.
Swinfen, L.
Tebbit, L.
Tenby, V.
Tombs, L.
Trefgarne, L.
Trumpington, B.
Waddington, L.
Wakeham, L.
Walpole, L.
Warnock, B.
Wilcox, B.
Williamson of Horton, L.
Winchester, Bp.
Windlesham, L.
Wolfson, L.
Wright of Richmond, L.

NOT-CONTENTS
Acton, L.
Addington, L.
Alli, L.
Amos, B. (Lord President of the Council)
Andrews, B.
Archer of Sandwell, L.
Ashton of Upholland, B.
Avebury, L.
Bach, L.
Barker, B.
Bassam of Brighton, L.
Beaumont of Whitley, L.
Berkeley, L.
Bernstein of Craigweil, L.
Bhattacharyya, L.
Blackstone, B.
Blood, B.
Borrie, L.
Brooke of Alverthorpe, L.
Campbell-Savours, L.
Carter, L.
Christopher, L.
Cohen of Pimlico, B.
Corbett of Castle Vale, L.
Crawley, B.
Dahrendorf, L.
Darcy de Knayth, B.
David, B.
Davies of Oldham, L. [Teller]
Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde, B.
Drayson, L.
Dubs, L.
Elder, L.
Evans of Temple Guiting, L.
Ezra, L.
Falconer of Thoroton, L. (Lord Chancellor)
Falkner of Margravine, B.
Farrington of Ribbleton, B.
Faulkner of Worcester, L.
Finlay of Llandaff, B.
Gale, B.
Gavron, L.
Gibson of Market Rasen, B.
Gilbert, L.
Golding, B.
Goodhart, L.
Gould of Potternewton, B.
Grocott, L. [Teller]
Harris of Haringey, L.
Harris of Richmond, B.
Harrison, L.
Hart of Chilton, L.
Haskel, L.
Hayman, B.
Henig, B.
Hilton of Eggardon, B.
Hogg of Cumbernauld, L.
Hollis of Heigham, B.
Howie of Troon, L.
Hoyle, L.
Hughes of Woodside, L.
Hunt of Kings Heath, L.
Janner of Braunstone, L.
Joffe, L.
King of West Bromwich, L.
Lea of Crondall, L.
Lester of Herne Hill, L.
Lipsey, L.
Livsey of Talgarth, L.
McCluskey, L.
Macdonald of Tradeston, L.
McIntosh of Haringey, L.
McIntosh of Hudnall, B.
MacKenzie of Culkein, L.
Mackenzie of Framwellgate, L.
Marsh, L.
Massey of Darwen, B.
Merlyn-Rees, L.
Miller of Chilthorne Domer, B.
Mitchell, L.
Morgan, L.
Morris of Manchester, L.
Moser, L.
Newby, L.
Nicholson of Winterbourne, B.
Northover, B.
Norton of Louth, L.
Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, L.
Pendry, L.
Plant of Highfield, L.
Randall of St. Budeaux, L.
Rea, L.
Redesdale, L.
Richard, L.
Rodgers of Quarry Bank, L.
Rogers of Riverside, L.
Rooker, L.
Roper, L.
Russell, E.
Sawyer, L.
Scotland of Asthal, B.
Sharman, L.
Sharp of Guildford, B.
Sheldon, L.
Simon, V.
Strabolgi, L.
Symons of Vernham Dean, B.
Taylor of Blackburn, L.
Temple-Morris, L.
Thomas of Walliswood, B.
Thomson of Monifieth, L.
Thornton, B.
Tomlinson, L.
Triesman, L.
Truscott, L.
Tunnicliffe, L.
Turnberg, L.
Turner of Camden, B.
Wall of New Barnet, B.
Walmsley, B.
Warner, L.
Watson of Richmond, L.
Whitaker, B.
Whitty, L.
Wilkins, B.
Williams of Crosby, B.
Williams of Elvel, L.
Woolmer of Leeds, L.
Worcester, Bp.
Young of Old Scone, B.


Resolved in the affirmative, and amendment agreed to accordingly.

 
24 Jun 2004 : Column 1391
 

Baroness Crawley: My Lords, I beg to move that consideration on Report be now adjourned. In moving the Motion, I suggest that the Report stage begin again not before 3.10 p.m.

Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.

---