COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 11 March 1879)

§ SIR ALEXANDER GORDON
moved to add at the end of the Clause— Provided that any regulations proposed to be made under the authority of this Act shall first he submitted to the approval of the Registrar General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, in England and Wales, with the view of securing 756 that such regulations are in accordance with the provisions of the Acts of Parliament on the subject. By this Bill, the military authorities were empowered, in effect, to alter the Acts of Parliament which, now existed, with reference to births, marriages, and deaths, and there would thus be two authorities on the same question, acting without any concert. The Registrar General was responsible to Parliament for carrying out these Acts, which were very numerous and intricate; while, by this Bill, the Secretary of State for War was to make regulations with regard to births, marriages, and deaths without any concert with the Registrar General. He thought it would give much greater security if it were provided that the Registrar General was to be consulted, as otherwise there would be no security that the existing Acts were complied with, and that the regulations were in accordance with the Acts.

COLONEL LOYD LINDSAY
thought the difficulty raised was not likely to ever arise in practice, while the effect would be to allow the Registrar General to over-ride the regulations of the Secretary of State. He thought it would be better that the hon. and gallant Gentleman should not insist on his Amendment. Of course, the regulations would be made under proper advice, and in conformity with the law.

§ SIR ALEXANDER GORDON
said, Her Majesty could, of course, make no regulations contrary to the law. He only wanted the Registrar General consulted. These regulations would affect his Office; and yet this Bill had been prepared without any consultation with him. However, if the Government would not accept the Amendment, he must withdraw it.