§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to control the level of charges for the performance of civil marriage services by registrars away from their normal offices; what recent estimate she has made of these charges; and what representations she has received on this subject since 1994. [28833]
§ Mr. SackvilleWe have no plans to control the level of charges levied by local authorities for the attendance of registration officers at civil marriage ceremonies on approved premises under the Marriage Act 1994, beyond the provisions of The Marriage (Approved Premises) Regulations 1995 which limit such fees to an amount, determined by local authorities, as reasonably representing the costs to them of providing a registrar and superintendent registrar to attend at a solemnization. Difference fess may he set for different cases and circumstances.
No information is available centrally about these charges, and. to date, one representation has been received on this subject.
40W
§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has(a) to regulate and (b) to review the charges made by local authorities for inspection of premises under the Marriage Act 1994. [28835]
§ Mr. SackvilleNone.
Regulations made under the provisions of the Marriage Act 1994 empower local authorities to charge a fee for a particular application for the approval of premises or for applications generally. The fee charged shall not exceed the amount which reasonably represents the costs incurred in the former case or which reasonably represents the average costs incurred in the latter.
§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the highest and lowest charge made for inspection of premises under the Marriage Act 1994. [28834]
§ Mr. SackvilleInformation about the fees charged by local authorities in respect of applications for the approval of premises under the Marriage Act 1994 is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average charge made by a registrar for a wedding service(a) in their own offices and (b) at licensed premises outside. [28832]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe fee payable for the attendance of a registrar at a register office wedding is set centrally and currently stands at £23.
The fee payable for civil ceremonies conducted on premises approved under the Marriage Act 1994 is one determined by each local authority as reasonably representing all the costs to it of providing both a registrar and superintendent registrar to attend the solemnization. The local authority may set different fees for different cases and circumstances. Information about the level of fees set by local authorities is not available centrally.