§ 18. Mr. HUTCHISONasked the Minister of Health whether he will state the reasons for the different wording of birth certificates at the beginning of the century and now; why some or all of the earlier birth certificates contained the name of the person whom they concerned whereas the later birth certificates merely give a number and the sex of the person whose birth is registered; and whether, in view of the fact that a birth certificate is essential to most people, including the unemployed, and payment has to be made for it, he will consider reverting to the earlier form of certificate which gave all the information of identity required?
Sir H. YOUNGThere has never been any change in the wording of birth certificates in England and Wales, which, as certified copies of an entry in the birth register, have always contained the full particulars as registered in accordance with the law. If my hon. Friend has in mind the "certificate of registry," the form of which was revised some four years ago, this is an entirely different document, issued purely as an acknowledgment that the statutory duty of registering a birth has been discharged. For unemployment insurance and numerous other purposes arising out of social legislation birth certificates containing full particulars are obtainable at the special cheap rate of sixpence.