§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in response to his Green Paper, "Registration: A Modern Service" (Cm. 531); and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe consultation period on the Green Paper closed last March and it attracted more than 600 responses. There was a widespread welcome for its proposals for more structured management arrangements for the registration service, greater public choice in the area of civil marriage, and an opening up of historic registration records. Some new suggestions were received for changing and modernising the registration service, and these have received consideration. The Government are now formulating their views, which will be published in a White Paper early next year.