Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to allow the purchase of photocopies of recent births and deaths registration records. [40534]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Gareth Thomas, dated 7 May 1998:
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the purchase of photocopies of recent registration records.The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 is quite specific as to the means of access to all records of births and deaths held by the Registrar General and registration officers. It gives members of the public the right to search the indexes in order to identify the entries they are looking for and to obtain certified copies (certificates) on payment of the statutory fee. The Registrar General and some registration officers use photocopying technology to facilitate the production of certified copies. Neither the Registrar General nor registration officers have any powers to disclose information in any other way.In view of this no immediate action is planned.