§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what charges his Department makes for issuing death certificates for individuals who die abroad; what plans he has to review these charges; and if he will make a statement. [179570]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThere is no requirement under UK law for the death of a British national overseas to be recorded at one of our Posts. In many cases, the local authorities for the jurisdiction in which the death took place issue death certificates.
However, if we are asked to do so the Statutory fee for registering a death at one of our Posts is £55 for the registration only. A copy of the entry costs an additional £35 per copy, if obtained through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and £8 per copy if obtained through the General Registry Office in Southport, Merseyside, after March of the succeeding year.
It is established Government policy that the cost of consular services, which are laid before Parliament, should be set to cover the full costs involved in delivering the services and not subsidised by the taxpayer.
There are no plans to review the costs at present.