The Scottish Health Secretary, Alex Neil, has given evidence before the Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee in the closing stages of its scrutiny of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill, reports the Scotsman.
The Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on 26th June, would introduce same-sex marriage and also make various general changes to the law on marriage and civil partnerships.
The Committee has been hearing oral evidence since 5th September in order to inform its Stage 1 scrutiny of the Bill, and has sought views both on the provisions set out in the Bill (such as allowing the religious and belief registration of civil partnerships, or civil partnerships changing to marriage), and on wider issues relating to the Bill such as freedom of speech.
In his evidence, Alex Neil has denied claims by the Church of Scotland that it might have to stop performing weddings because of the costs of legal challenges that may arise over its refusal to marry same-sex couples.
Alex Neil described these claims as ‘scaremongering’ and reiterated that the Bill contains sufficient protection for religious bodies from such claims.
He said: “It’s legally watertight in terms of any potential challenge under the European Convention of Human Rights legislation,” reports the Scotsman.
“There’s nothing in this bill that would force the churches to abandon carrying out marriages,” he added.
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