HC Deb 15 April 1981 vol 3 cc208-9W
Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what fees have been charged for copies of birth, marriage and death certificates over the past 15 years, together with each increase and the date of its imposition.

Sir George Young

The fees charged for certificates of births, death and marriage applied for in person at the General Register Office over the past 15 years were as follows. For convenience of comparison, the fees for 1966 and 1968 have been converted to new pence.

Full certified copy (birth, death, marriage) Short birth certificate
Fee Increase Fee Increase
£ p £ p £ p £ p
1966 *0.26 0.4
1 October 1968 0.40 0.14 0.15 0.11
1 October 1972 0.75 0.35 0.25 0.10

Full certified copy (birth, death, marriage) Short birth certificate
Fee Increase Fee Increase
£ p £ p £ p £ p
1 October 1975 2.50 1.75 1.25 1.00
1 January 1978 2.50 1.50 0.25
1 April 1979 2.75 0.25 1.50
1 April 1980 3.50 0.75 2.00 0.50
1 April 1981 4.00 0.50 2.00

* The fee of 26p in 1966 included a search fee of 7½p. Search fees were abolished on 1 October 1968.

Applications by post incur additional handling charges which were introduced on 1 October 1968 for full certificates and 1 October 1972 for short certificates.

The fees for certificates issued by a registrar of births, deaths and marriages at the time of registration, or whilst the register is still in his possession, are less. The issue of a free short birth certificate at the time of registration was introduced on 1 October 1968.