-
Compliments Ms Latham on her work to bring the Bill to the House. Supports the proposal to prevent children from being coerced into marriage, highlighting that current laws enable abuse through parental consent.
-
Praises Ms Latham's work and agrees that recent legislation has shifted the perspective on child victims. Argues against the mechanism of parental consent, stating it can be used as a vehicle for abuse.
-
Supports Ms Latham's stance on child marriage, referencing personal experience and emphasising the negative impact of early marriages on education and poverty levels for women and girls.
-
Congratulates Ms Latham on bringing forward the Bill, highlighting its importance in tackling child marriage. Asks about patterns of communities or traditions where this practice is more prevalent.
-
Supports Ms Latham's efforts, highlighting the Foreign Secretary’s pledge to tackle child marriage internationally and enquires about enforcement mechanisms within the Home Office or relevant Department.
-
Praises Ms Latham for championing the Bill, agreeing that it is vital legislation to clearly demonstrate opposition to child marriage in the UK.
-
Reiterates support for the Bill, highlighting the importance of upholding marriage as a noble institution while addressing harmful practices.
-
Champion supports the amendment because it addresses child protection and highlights that most cases of child marriage are non-registered religious or customary marriages. She provides statistics showing that 3,096 children aged 16 to 17 were legally married between 2007 and 2017 in England and Wales. She also shares a personal anecdote about a friend who was forced into a child marriage at age 16.
-
[INTERVENTION] Sharma agrees that forced marriages and honour-based abuse are interlinked with child marriage, which he considers to be child abuse.
-
Saxby supports the amendment by emphasising that marriage is a serious undertaking and should not be entered into lightly. She cites statistics showing that at least four times as many girls as boys are involved in child marriages, leading to various negative outcomes such as leaving education early and limited career opportunities.
-
Mr Spencer supports raising the marriage age to 18, arguing that it is a serious decision with significant legal and financial implications. He believes the current allowance for parental consent at ages 16-17 is odd given the personal nature of marriage. Mr Spencer advocates for aligning marriage legislation with principles from the Mental Capacity Act by ensuring full competence and willingness when making such decisions. He emphasises the importance of maturity and the impact of age on romantic choices.
-
[INTERVENTION] Ms Mackrory agrees with Mr Spencer, stating that the Bill modernises marriage legislation and grants young people autonomy to make decisions about marriage without parental control.
-
Andrew Slaughter supports the Bill, arguing that allowing marriage at ages 16 and 17 blurs lines and may encourage child marriage. He cites research showing domestic violence and sexual abuse in marriages involving minors and highlights a UN recommendation to raise the minimum age for marriage to 18. He also points out that forced marriage disproportionately affects girls and women, calling for more government support to protect those at risk.
-
Supports the Bill and emphasises its importance in ending child marriage. Argues that raising the minimum age to 18 will send a strong message against child marriage both domestically and internationally. He also highlights the Government's commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, including forced marriage, through various measures such as training professionals, providing funding for helplines, and developing educational resources.
-
Welcomes the Minister to his place and asks whether Northern Ireland and Scotland will follow suit in raising the marriage age to 18.
-
Responds that Northern Ireland is consulting on changing its law, while Scotland faces obligations under UN sustainable development goals. She expresses hope for consistent measures across the UK.
-
Commends the Bill's focus on children and highlights its importance in protecting young people from exploitation through child marriage.
-
Questions whether the Minister can further ensure that those involved in arranging forced marriages are held accountable, emphasising the need for enforcement and prosecution.
-
Highlights issues with current criminal justice processes that can delay prosecutions and suggests improvements to support victims during this period.
-
Raises concerns about the delayed implementation of mandatory relationship education and introduces the teaspoon campaign as a practical measure for protecting children taken abroad for marriages.
-
Praises the Bill and suggests training local councillors to understand cultural differences related to forced marriage practices.
-
Acknowledges best practices in Ealing and questions whether the Government can adopt best practices from outside Britain, such as those seen in India's recent legislation.
-
Thanked those who participated in the debate, emphasising that it would change lives and life chances for millions of girls and young boys. Acknowledged support from Clerks of the House, the Department, and cross-party initiative including former Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland. Looked forward to the Bill going into Committee stage.