5.—(1) Section 91 (early registration) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (1) insert—
“(1A) Unless subsection (1B) applies, if a proposed civil partnership is referred to the Secretary of State under section 88F(1) (“the referred civil partnership”) the Registrar General may not authorise the district registrar to fix the specified date mentioned in subsection (1) as the date for registration of the referred civil partnership without the consent of the Secretary of State.
(1B) This subsection applies if the request made under subsection (1) is made because a party to the referred civil partnership is gravely ill and not expected to recover.”
Section 88F is inserted by paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to this Order.