A Home Office report has found that same sex marriage will cost the government millions in updating IT systems.

The potential legislation would lead to a number of computer systems needing to be adjusted in order to remove references to marriage between men and women. Updating the General Register Office (GRO) IT system is thought to be the most expensive, costing £2 million. However, the government insist this will be a one off cost, spread over two years.

Other costs will include a £1 million for updating the benefits and pensions system at the Department for Work and Pensions, while £250,000 will be needed to reform HMRC’s IT systems £200,000 for the Office for National Statistics and £165,000 for the Ministry of Justice IT system.

The Home Office has received more than 100,000 responses to its proposal to pass legislation in order to give same-sex couples equal rights to get married.