§ MR. W. HOLMSasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he is aware that, while by Clause 15, sub-section 9, of the Friendly Societies Act of 1875 a certificate of death shall be given by the Registrar of Deaths for a sum not exceeding one shilling, "in place of all fees or payments in respect of the same," in many places throughout England, and especially in large towns, Registrars of Deaths systematically evade the law by charging one shilling, and sometimes one shilling and threepence extra for such certificate, in which they fill up all or part of the information required in such certificate; and, if he has any ob- 1326 jection to instruct the Registrar General to issue a circular to District Registrars intimating that their charge for a certificate of death shall not under any circumstances exceed the statutory sum of one shilling?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, he had no authority to issue instructions to the Registrar General. He had stated on a former occasion, in answer to a similar Question, that the regular charge which Registrars could make under these circumstances was 1s. for certificates of death, but that there were certain forms which they were not bound to fill up, which were required to be filled up before cirtificates were given, and for filling up which they made an extra charge. He had authority from the Registrar General to state that during the three months the Act had been in operation no information had reached him that more than 6d. had been charged for filling up the forms. Some Registrars charged 3d. and some nothing.