The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps and Other Provisions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021

Amendments to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021

2.—(1) The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021 are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 9(2), for the words from “to evidence” to the end, substitute “concerned with the provision of an appropriate public health response to the incidence and spread of coronavirus in England”.

(3) In regulation 21(1), for “30th June 2021” substitute “18th July 2021”.

(4) In Schedule 3—

(a) in paragraph 2(5A), in the opening words, for “paragraph” substitute “sub-paragraph”;

(b) in paragraph 3—

(i) in sub-paragraph (12)(a), for “30th June 2021” substitute “the end of 18th July 2021”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (22), for paragraphs (b) and (c), substitute—

“(b) the gathering does not take place indoors in a private dwelling, and

(c) the gathering organiser or manager takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.”;

(iii) after sub-paragraph (22), insert—

“Exception 18: marriages and civil partnerships etc

(23) Exception 18 is that the gathering meets the conditions in sub-paragraph (24) or (25).

(24) A gathering meets the conditions in this sub-paragraph if—

(a) the gathering is for the purposes of—

(i) the solemnisation of a marriage, formation of a civil partnership or conversion of a civil partnership into a marriage, in accordance with the Marriage Act 1949(1), the Marriage (Registrar General’s Licence) Act 1970(2), the Civil Partnership Act 2004(3), or the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013(4), or

(ii) an alternative wedding ceremony,

(b) the gathering does not take place indoors in a private dwelling, and

(c) the gathering organiser or manager takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.

(25) A gathering meets the conditions in this sub-paragraph if—

(a) the gathering is for the purposes of—

(i) the solemnisation of a marriage in accordance with the Marriage (Registrar General’s Licence) Act 1970,

(ii) the solemnisation of a marriage by special licence under the Marriage Act 1949, where at least one of the parties to the marriage is seriously ill and not expected to recover,

(iii) the formation of a civil partnership under the special procedure provided for in Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004,

(iv) the conversion of a civil partnership to a marriage under the special procedure provided for in regulation 9 of the Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Conversion of Civil Partnership) Regulations 2014(5), or

(v) an alternative wedding ceremony, where at least one of the parties to the marriage is seriously ill and not expected to recover,

(b) the gathering does not take place indoors in a private dwelling, unless it is not reasonably practicable for it to take place elsewhere,

(c) where the gathering does take place indoors in a private dwelling, it comprises no more than 30 people, and

(d) the gathering organiser or manager takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.

(26) In sub-paragraphs (24) and (25), a gathering is for the purposes of an “alternative wedding ceremony” if it is for the purposes of a ceremony, including a ceremony based on a person’s faith or belief or lack of belief, to mark the union of two people, other than a ceremony conducted for a purpose mentioned in sub-paragraph (24)(a)(i), or (25)(a)(i) to (iv).

Exception 19: wedding and civil partnership receptions

(27) Exception 19 is that—

(a) the gathering is for the purposes of—

(i) a wedding reception,

(ii) a reception following the formation of a civil partnership, or

(iii) a reception following the conversion of a civil partnership into a marriage,

(b) the gathering does not take place indoors in a private dwelling, and

(c) the gathering organiser or manager takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.

Exception 20: commemorative event following a person’s death

(28) Exception 20 is that—

(a) the gathering is for the purposes of a commemorative event to celebrate the life of a person who has died (for example, a wake or stone setting ceremony),

(b) the gathering does not take place indoors in a private dwelling, and

(c) the gathering organiser or manager takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.”;

(c) in paragraph 4, omit sub-paragraphs (7) to (13), and the associated headings;

(d) in paragraph 7(9), for “Paragraphs” substitute “Sub-paragraphs”.

(1)

1949 c. 76.

(2)

1970 c. 34.

(3)

2004 c. 33.

(4)

2013 c. 30.

(5)

S.I. 2014/3181.