A BILL set to become law next month gives greater property rights to unmarried people who live together.

One of its effects will be that women could stay in a shared house owned by their partner and could even get him evicted. Men will have the same rights, but, in practice, it will be mostly women who will benefit from the new laws.

Predictably, family campaigners are accusing the Government of sabotaging marriage by giving these rights to live-in lovers.

What these campaigners should remember is that the Government is not in the business of maintaining the institution of marriage, but is concerned about making laws which are fair.

However, one of the by-products of this Bill could be that it will make people think very carefully before they invite anyone to live with them. The knowledge that a partner, man or woman, could be entitled to a share in their home might mean fewer, not more, people decide to live together outside marriage.

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