Relate welcomes Office for National Statistics latest figures on Civil Partnerships in England and Wales.
RELATE, the UK relationship support charity, has welcomed the latest findings from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which show a continued growth in the number of civil partnerships in 2017.
The charity sees civil partnerships as an important legal option for helping to support and maintain healthy, committed, same-sex relationships, and hopes that the continued popularity of CPs will help inform government consultation on whether to keep civil partnerships in future now that gay marriage is an option, or indeed to extend the option of CPs to those who are not same-sex couples.
According to the 2017 statistics:
♦ There were 908 civil partnerships formed in England and Wales in 2017, an increase of 2.0% compared with 2016; this is the second annual increase since marriages of same-sex couples was announced in 2013.
♦ Almost two-thirds (66%) of all civil partnerships formed in 2017 were between men.
♦ The increase in the number of civil partnership formations between 2016 and 2017 resulted solely from an 8.0% rise (23 civil partnerships) in civil partnerships between women, civil partnership formation among men decreased by 0.8% (five civil partnerships).
♦ More than half (51%) of those entering a civil partnership in 2017 were aged 50 years and over; this compares with 19% in 2013, prior to the introduction of marriages of same-sex couples.
♦ In 2017, the average age of men forming a civil partnership (50.3 years) was higher than for women (49.5 years).
♦ London continued to be the most popular region for the formation of civil partnerships; 37% of all formations in England and Wales in 2017 took place in London.
♦ There were 1,217 civil partnership dissolutions granted in England and Wales in 2017, of these 57% were to female couples.
Nicola Haines, Vital Statistics Outputs Branch, Office for National Statistics said: “Despite the introduction of marriages for same-sex couples in March 2014, the number of same-sex couples choosing to form civil partnerships has increased slightly for the second consecutive year. Almost two-thirds of couples entering into a civil partnership in 2017 were male and more than half of all civil partners were aged 50 years or above. However, our latest data on marriages from 2015 shows that male couples accounted for less than half of all marriages between same-sex couples while only 16% of those marrying a partner of the same-sex were aged 50 and over.”
In response to the latest figures, Huw Thomas, Director of Policy at Relate said: “As today’s statistics show, many same sex couples are still opting for a civil partnership, despite now having the right to marry. Relate celebrates the fact that same sex couples now have the option to publicly show their commitment in a way that suits them.
“The government will be looking at these statistics closely when deciding whether to abolish civil partnerships, phase them out, or extend the right to register one to opposite sex couples. More research is needed to understand people’s reasons for opting for civil partnership over marriage. It’s likely that many are drawn to civil partnerships because they associate marriage with patriarchy but still want legal rights, financial protection, and to recognise their commitment to each other. These are also some of the reasons why a number of heterosexual couples may opt for a civil partnership if it were available to them.
“At Relate we believe everyone should have the choice to recognise their relationship in a way that works for them so given the clear demand, extending the right to register a civil partnership to everyone, rather than abolishing them altogether surely makes more sense. Our law needs to keep up with changes in our society and we are also in favour of increasing the legal rights of cohabitating couples.”
To read the full ONS report on Civil Partnerships in 2017, click here:
For more information about Relate, click here:
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