§ 3.4 p.m.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, I beg leave to ask Her Majesty's Government the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is the case, as would appear from a letter in The Times of the 19th instant, that the Registrar-General has power to refuse to accept for registration such baptismal names as he pleases, or to issue a list of permitted names, and, if so under what Statutes or portions of Statutes such power has been assumed; and whether it extends to the exclusion of Christian saints, or of ancestors whose names happen to have incurred the Registrar-General's disapproval.]
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, the statements made in the letter to which the noble Lord refers arise out of a misunderstanding of the position. The regulation governing the entry of a child's name in a birth register requires the registrar to enter the name given to him by the person reporting the birth. The only case where the Registrar-General would advise a registrar to refuse to record a name would be if it were distinctly objectionable. The Registrar-General does issue a list of names to registrars, but this is used only as a spelling guide for those in need: a registrar is told that he must not insist upon a spelling given in the list if another one is preferred.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, in thanking the noble Earl for his Answer, may I ask why the Registrar-General should possess such a list?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, as I say, it is really a spelling guide. The reason why the Registrar-General should have these powers is because some parents seem Ito have curious habits in naming their children. For instance, I believe it can happen that a child is burdened with the name "Not-wanted." Following that line of thought, your Lordships doubtless could think of a lot of variants which, if they were allowed to proceed, one would find very difficult to live down in life. That is the reason why I think he has this list.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, in thanking the noble Earl for his further reply, may I ask him whether Her Majesty's Government think it might be advisable for the Registrar-General to suggest to his subordinates that they should not produce the list unless it is clearly required in any special case?