Humanist marriage

When the government allows civil partnerships in religious premises ( Report , 17 February), let's hope it also makes humanist marriages legal. In Scotland, before they were recognised there were about 85 a year; in five years the total leapt to 1,544, and with continued strong growth they may well overtake Catholic ceremonies to become the third most popular option. In England and Wales all the evidence is of an even greater pent-up demand. Why should it be only the religious who are allowed to have a ceremony specific to their beliefs? The Humanist Association has drafted a simple bill to effect the necessary change – it could easily be included in the government's protection of freedoms bill. David Pollock London