Last week, the government issued its response to the August report of the Women and Equalities Commission which called for better protection for cohabiting couples. It is widely known and reported that cohabiting couples make up the fastest growing family type in the UK. The current law offers minimal protection to those in cohabiting relationships leaving millions - and often women - at financial risk in the event of a relationship breakdown.   

The response is deeply frustrating. The government has rejected the Commission's key recommendations, and instead it wants the response to the Law Commission's weddings project to be released, and a review of the current financial remedies law completed before any consideration can be given to law reform in this area.  

Whilst is it acknowledged that the different areas of family law must "work together" to some extent this is a disappointing response and one which deliberately and obviously "kicks the can down the road", leaving millions of couples vulnerable to the outdated and ineffective cohabitation laws currently in place.