HC Deb 27 January 1978 vol 942 cc796-7W
Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the fees payable for an examination for historical or genealogical purposes of the official records of births, marriages and deaths since 1855; whether an examination is possible without purchase of the certificates; and if an examination can be carried out by payment of a fee per day.

Mr. Harry Ewing

With effect from 1st January 1978, the fee for a general search in the indexes to the statutory registers of births, marriages and deaths held in the General Register Office for Scotland is £3 per day. Alternatively, inclusive fees of £3.50 per day, £8 per week, £23 per month and £45 per quarter may be paid, covering also searches in the old parish registers and in those census records which are open to the public.

So far as the post-1855 statutory registers are concerned, these fees confer an entitlement to search the indexes only, but it is the practice to allow searchers to consult particular entries in the registers also, under supervision and without being required to purchase extracts of the entries.