§ Mr. Newensasked the Attorney-General if he will make provisions to facilitate general searches of statutory registers of births, marriages and deaths on a basis similar to that which exists in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungI have been asked to reply.
Current legislation makes no provision for search by the public in the statutory records of births, deaths and marriages held by the Registrar General. Provision is, however, made for public access to the indexes to these statutory records.
As the hon. Member is aware, my right hon. and learned Friend, the Attorney-General, has already indicated in his reply to him on 6 April—[Vol. 2, c. 681–2.]—that the whole question of the transfer to the
206W
Portsmouth Devonport Chatham 1 April A B A B A B 1970 9,689 .24 12,270 .19 6,853 .29 1971 9,413 .22 12,194 .20 6,879 .28 1972 9,186 .20 11,989 .17 6,593 .27 1973 9,006 .20 11,938 .18 6,686 .25 1974 8,912 .18 12,094 .17 6,558 .26 1975 8,420 .19 12,052 .17 6,241 .24 1976 8,190 .17 12,068 .15 6,177 .24 Public Record Office of the records of births, deaths and marriages which are more than 100 years old is awaiting the outcome of the review by the Lord Chancellor. Such transfer would require legislation. There are no plans to provide public access to records less than 100 years old.
In Scotland the general searches apply to the indexes, not to the statutory records themselves.