The Government in Westminster has announced the timetable for the implementation of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act in England and Wales.

Same-sex couples will now be able to get married in a registry or approved religious premises from 29 March 2014.

Says Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall: ‘We’re particularly pleased that, following pressure from Stonewall, ministers have been persuaded to bring forward the commencement date from the summer as they’d originally proposed. There will be a slight further delay for people who want to ‘convert’ from civil partnerships to marriage.

‘This historic step will mean that, for the first time, every gay person in England and Wales will finally enjoy exactly the same rights as their heterosexual friends and family.’