In February 2006, social concern charity CARE welcomed the news that marriage is back on the agenda, with the number of weddings rising for the third year in succession.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed there were 270,700 marriages in England and Wales in 2004, up 590 from 270,110 in 2003 and 15,100 from 255,600 in 2002.
Nola Leach, General Director of CARE, said: ‘We welcome these findings. There is widespread evidence to show that being part of a family is better for adults and children, and that healthy family life provides the best basis for a stable society.
