40. Commander Locker-Lawsonasked the Minister of Health whether he will now reconsider the type of certificate of registry of births on the lines of the sample sent to him and thus simplify matters and avoid unauthorised and needless details when certificates are asked for.
§ Mr. WillinkA person acting in the statutory capacity of informant for the registration of a birth is entitled to obtain from the Registrar an acknowledgment that this statutory duty has been discharged. I am not prepared to restore the present form of acknowledgment to that of the form sent me by my hon. and gallant Friend, which was superseded some 20 years ago for the reasons that it did not satisfy its sole purpose as above described and contained particulars which made it the equivalent of an irregular birth certificate. In any case, the earlier form, if restored, would not satisfy the requirements of the numerous statutory provisions as to evidence of age.
§ Sir Ernest Graham-LittleWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman take particular care that there shall be no information in such certificates involving breach of professional secrecy?
§ Mr. WillinkCertainaly.
§ Mr. WillinkI am quite prepared to consider that.