16,100 couples took advantage of England's civil partnership laws back in 2006. The numbers have been dropping ever since: "The number of gay weddings has plummeted by more than 50 per cent in the past year… A survey by the Local Government Association found that all the 40 councils across England they surveyed had experienced a fall in the number taking place - the figures show an average drop of 55 per cent in 2007 from 2006." The Guardian report also notes that 65% of 2006's marriages were civil partnerships.