B

Baroness Merron (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 20 January 2025

Debate

First-cousin Marriage

Contribution

The noble Baroness is right that consanguineous unions are decreasing. While it had the best data, the NIHR-funded study, Born in Bradford, to which the noble Baroness and I have referred, found that between 2000 and 2010, 39% of British Pakistani couples in Bradford were first cousins. However, that reduced by 27% by 2019, for the reasons suggested. Driving change across whole ranges of areas makes a difference, but it is important that we keep this in perspective and make any communications and support absolutely appropriate.

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