Maman Poulet

The Minister for Justice, Michael Mc Dowell, has said he has decided to establish a working group which will look at the various options in relation to civil partnership. Mr McDowell said he hopes the group will report on the various options available to Government in this area by the end of March 2006. The Minister said the Government would then decide what action to take.

His comments come on the day five same-sex couples were due to take part in Scotland's first civil partnership ceremonies. The first ceremony was expected to take place in Edinburgh this morning.

Three such ceremonies took place in Northern Ireland yesterday. Yesterday's ceremonies were the first in the United Kingdom. The ceremonies begin in England and Wales from tomorrow.