Family law solicitors have joined the government in hitting out at peers in the House of Lords after they halted the progress of the Civil Partnerships Bill.

The Lords passed amendments last week extending the option to register for civil partnership to family members who are aged over 30 and have lived together for 12 years, despite warnings from Home Office minister Baroness Scotland that they would cause serious problems with pensions and welfare benefits. 'These amendments would require the tearing up of all social security law since Beveridge,' she argued.


The Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA) said the amendments undermined the fact that civil partnership status was intended as a legal relationship for same-sex couples.


'SFLA is very disappointed,' a spokeswoman said. 'We strongly support the civil partnership as it was originally intended - to provide legal recognition for committed loving relationships between couples.'


Law Society chief executive Janet Paraskeva also expressed dismay at the Lords' amendments. 'The Law Society has long campaigned for better legal rights for cohabiting same-sex couples and it would be a great shame if this much-needed legislation failed at this late stage,' she said.


The Department of Trade and Industry, which devised the Bill, said it would not back down. A spokeswoman said the government had consulted on the Bill and received public support on the basis that civil partnerships would create equality and recognition for same-sex couples. 'The government's proposals have been made totally unworkable by this amendment and the government is determined to put this right,' she insisted.