Ministry of Justice: Revised Weddings Law Reform Assessment for England and Wales

• The Ministry of Justice submitted a revised options assessment to the RPC on July 29, 2026.
• The revised assessment aims to address concerns raised by the RPC's 'red' rating of the original options assessment.
• The review of the revised assessment is ongoing, with the RPC's opinion expected to be published for transparency in due course.

The revised assessment aims to address the concerns raised by the RPC, which deemed the original options assessment 'not fit for purpose.'

The Ministry of Justice has submitted a revised options assessment to the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) on July 29, 2026. This move comes after the RPC gave a 'red' rating to an earlier assessment for the policy proposal to reform weddings law in England and Wales. The revised assessment aims to address the concerns raised by the RPC, which deemed the original options assessment 'not fit for purpose.' The review of the revised assessment is ongoing, with the RPC's opinion expected to be published for transparency in due course.

The Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) gave a 'red' rating to the original options assessment submitted by the Ministry of Justice on May 13, 2026. This advisory opinion suggests that the evidence and analysis supporting the policy proposal were inadequate. The RPC's red rating is not a reflection of the merits of the policy itself but rather an indication that the options assessment was 'not fit for purpose.' This raises concerns about the quality of the evidence and analysis used to inform policy decisions.

The revised options assessment submitted by the Ministry of Justice may have significant implications for future policy proposals. Lawyers should pay close attention to the outcome of this review, as it could impact regulatory decisions and policy development. The RPC's opinion on the revised assessment will provide valuable insights into the quality of evidence and analysis used in policy-making. This, in turn, can inform lawyers' understanding of the potential implications for their clients and the broader legal landscape.

Lawyers should watch for the revised options assessment from Ministry of Justice, which may impact future policy proposals and regulatory decisions.

Source: Original reporting via GOV.UK