Scottish Government launches new consulation on civil partnerships
A consultation on the future of civil partnership in Scotland has been launched today.
It follows the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014, which introduced same sex marriage.
Options include no change, so civil partnerships remain available to same sex couples only, and making provision so no new civil partnerships could be entered into in future.
The Scottish Government has also considered the option of introducing opposite sex civil partnership but evidence suggests that demand would be low.
Ministers have said there would be limited recognition of such partnerships outwith Scotland and there would be costs involved.
Existing civil partners will be able to remain in their civil partnership if they wish – there is no obligation to change a civil partnership to marriage.
This follows the publication of statistics on the number of marriages and civil partnerships, which shows the number of civil partnerships being entered into is continuing to fall.
Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment Marco Biagi said: "This Government is immensely proud of introducing same sex marriage, which was a milestone in achieving equality in Scotland.
"During the Parliamentary passage of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 we said we would consider the future of civil partnerships, which is what our consultation now seeks to do.
"We remain open to hearing all views on the options set out in the consultation but, after careful consideration of this issue, we are not persuaded of the case for the establishment of opposite sex civil partnership in Scotland."
Tim Hopkins, Director of the Equality Network, said: “We welcome the publication of the consultation paper.
"But we are surprised and disappointed that the Scottish Government appear to have decided already to oppose equal civil partnership, that is, making civil partnership available to all couples regardless of gender.
"In our view, that is the only option that respects both equality and diversity. We know that a significant minority of mixed-sex and same-sex couples would prefer a civil partnership to a marriage, and at the moment only same-sex couples have that option.
"Equality means making that available to all.”
The consultation runs until December 15 this year and can be viewed at http://www.gov.scot/Consultations/Current
