§ Lord Teviotasked Her Majesty's Government:
What legislation prohibits the deposit of central and local registration records of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales for public access at approved repositories.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (the 1953 Act) and the Marriage Act 1949 (the 1949 Act) specify where central and local registration records of births, deaths and marriages in England and Wales are to be deposited and retained. Section 28(4) of the 1953 Act and Section 58(2) of the 1949 Act require certified copies of entries of births, deaths and marriages sent to the registrar general to be kept in the General Register Office. Similarly, Section 28(2) of the 1953 Act and Section 60(2) of the 1949 Act require registrars of births, deaths and marriages to deposit with the superintendent registrar filled register books which must be kept by him with the records of his office. Copies of the Acts are available in the Library.