§ Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which Minister is responsible for the Registry of Births, Marriages and Deaths; whether she will publish this fact in the list of ministerial responsibilities within Departments; and what is the reason for such allocation of responsibility.
§ Mrs. CastleThe General Register Office, which is part of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, is administered by the Registrar-General, who is appointed by Her Majesty and personally exercises powers conferred upon him by Acts of Parliament. I have some ministerial responsibility for OPCS and approve any regulations which the Registrar-General may make. Other Ministers in my Department can act on my behalf and the Minister of State with special responsibility for health takes a particular interest in OPCS matters because of their links with health and personal social services. The list of ministerial responsibilities within the Department will be amended to incorporate a reference to the work of OPCS.
664WEnglish region, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, at the last date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe information requested is as follows: