§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information, other than statistical information, he requires from registrars of births, deaths and marriages; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellI have been asked to reply.
We do not directly require any information from registrars of births, deaths and marriages. Registrars, by law, are required to send copies to the Registrar-General of all register entries made in the area for which they are responsible. The form of these register entries is prescribed by regulations made by the Registrar-General which require my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's approval. In addition, the information contained in each birth, stillbirth and death register is also required to be returned to the prescribed medical officer of the district health authority for the place in which the event occurred under the provisions of the National Health Service Act 1977.