This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill on 18 January 2019.
Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill: Brefing for Lords Stages (246KB PDF)
The Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill is a private member’s bill consisting of six clauses. The bill would facilitate the move from a paper-based system of marriage registration towards a partially electronic system (allowing several connected changes to how marriages are registered) and would grant opposite-sex couples the right to form civil partnerships (currently, only same-sex couples can form civil partnerships). It would also require the Government to publish reports on whether the law should be changed to allow the registration of pregnancy losses which occur before 24 weeks gestation and on whether coroners should be allowed or required to investigate still-births.
It is due to receive second reading in the House of Lords on 18 January 2019, having completed its Commons stages, with cross-party and Government support, on 26 October 2018. It is sponsored in the House of Lords by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative).
Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill: Brefing for Lords Stages (246KB PDF)
The Cohabitation Rights Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames (Liberal Democrat). The bill would provide certain protections for cohabiting couples, for example in the event one of them dies. Its second reading is scheduled for 17 July 2026.
![Cohabitation Rights Bill [HL]: HL Bill 14 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Family-and-civil-law-568x426.png)
The Local Plans (Burial Space) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Mohammed of Tinsley (Liberal Democrat). The bill would establish a duty for local planning authorities in England to ensure adequate burial ground space is provided in their local area. It would also require them to set out plans for how they intend to address any shortfall in burial ground capacity.
![Local Plans (Burial Space) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 8 of session 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Communities-1-568x426.png)
In January 2026, the government announced a new scheme to support urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship. Called the ‘Places of worship renewal fund for England’, it replaced the ‘Listed places of worship grant scheme’ which had run since 2001. This briefing provides an overview of both schemes, the government’s reasoning for the change and the reaction of stakeholders.
