AN OKEHAMPTON minister has accused Prime Minister Tony Blair of 'devaluing and dishonouring' the institution of marriage.

Okehampton councillor and pastor Mike Davies has formally written to Mr Blair to express his personal dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister's attitude towards the sanctity of marriage.

Mr Davies, pastor at the Inspiration Church in Okehampton, as well as chairman of Christians Together in Okehampton, writes in the letter: 'I believe that marriage has been devalued, deserted, and dishonoured by your Government as a whole.'

Mr Davies' letter has been prompted by the new proposals outlined within the Government's consultation paper 'Civil Registration: Delivering Vital Change', which covers changes in rules governing marriages and births.

The Government believe modernisation of the registration system is needed to give couples more choice about where and when they marry.

But Pastor Davies believes changing the rules about marriage venues allowing for 'novelty weddings' — similar to those seen in the United States — will detract from the dignity of the marriage ceremony.

The paper's proposals that the sex of bride and bridegroom would no longer be recorded was also questioned by Pastor Davies. 'The law of England and Wales explicitly recognises marriage as the union of one man and one woman,' he said.

Pastor Davies also said proposals in the

paper might hamper the religious freedoms of registrars to refuse a wedding as a matter of conscience.

Mr Davies has requested that the Prime Minister seeks advice on re-establishing marriage values in homes and schools, and to allocate funding to support marriage preparation and marriage enrichment courses.

He said the breakdown of marriage and traditional family structure had serious implications on society.

He said: 'If marriages are supported financially and through the Government this will reduce expenditure on dealing with a variety of social issues.'

Mr Davies' letter stated: 'The House of Commons Library estimated that in 1994 family breakdown cost the taxpayer £5-billion a year in benefits and other costs. I hate to think what the cost is today!'

He also referred to a 1998 study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which concluded that children of separated families have a higher probability of being in poverty and poor housing, performing less well at school, and becoming a parent at an early age.

Mr Davies added: 'We need to stand up and demand that the Government stop knocking the system that works but actually start to support it.'

A spokesperson for the General Register Office, part of the Office for National Statistics, said the proposed changes would make it easier for people to deal with Government at key points in their and their families' lives.