Citation, commencement and interpretationE+W

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Regulations 2006 and shall come into force on 13^th November 2006.

(2) In these Regulations—

“the Act” means the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953;

“the Principal Regulations” means the Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987(5), and unless the context otherwise requires any reference in these Regulations to a numbered regulation or Schedule is a reference to the regulation or Schedule bearing that number in those Regulations; and

“the Welsh Language Regulations” means the Registration of Births and Deaths (Welsh Language) Regulations 1987(6).

Amendment of regulation 4 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

2.  In regulation 4 (absence of particulars) for “draw a line in ink though that space” substitute “enter a line through that space”.

Amendment of regulation 9 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

3.—(1) In regulation 9(5)(b) (entry of particulars on registration within three months from date of birth) omit “below the particulars”.

(2) In regulation 9(10) for “the registrar shall, in the presence of the informant, make the necessary correction as provided in regulation 54” substitute “the registrar, in the presence of the informant, shall, where the entry is being completed in manuscript, make the correction in accordance with regulation 54”.

Amendment of regulation 11 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

4.—(1) In regulation 11(1)(a) (registration between three and twelve months from date of birth) for “using” substitute “on”.

(2) In regulation 11(1)(b) for “show or read the declaration to the informant and correct any error or omission, requiring the informant to initial any amendment and then to sign the declaration” substitute “show or read the declaration to the informant and correct any error or omission, requiring the informant to initial any amendment if the declaration is prepared in manuscript, and then to sign the declaration”.

(3) In regulation 11(1)(d) for “deliver” substitute “make available”.

Amendment of regulation 12 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

5.  In regulation 12(3) (registration after twelve months from date of birth) omit “of the entry immediately below the date of registration”.

Amendment of regulation 13 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

6.—(1) In regulation 13(2)(b) (declaration and registration under section 9 of the Act) for “show or read the particulars entered on the form to the informant and correct any error or omission, requiring the informant to initial any amendment and then to sign the declaration” substitute “show or read the declaration to the informant and correct any error or omission, requiring the informant to initial any amendment if the declaration is prepared in manuscript, and then to sign the declaration”.

(2) In regulation 13(5)(c)(iii) omit “below the date of registration”.

Amendment of regulation 27 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

7.—(1) In regulation 27(1)(a) (marking of birth entry of adopted child) omit “or, as the case may be, the words “proposed foreign adoption”,”.

(2) In regulation 27(2) for “50(7) and 55(3) of, and paragraphs 1(3), 2, 3(c), 4(2)(b), (3) and (5), 5 and 6(b) of Schedule 1, to the Adoption Act 1976” substitute “77(6) of, and paragraphs 1(2), 2, 3(2)(a), 4(5)(b), (6)(b) and (9), 5 and 6(2)(b) of Schedule 1 to, the Adoption and Children Act 2002”.

Amendment of regulation 34A of the Principal RegulationsE+W

8.  In regulation 34A(2)(b) (declaration and registration of a still-birth under section 9 of the Act) for “show or read the particulars entered on the form to the informant and correct any error or omission, requiring the informant to initial any amendment and then to sign the declaration” substitute “show or read the declaration to the informant and correct any error or omission, requiring the informant to initial any amendment if the declaration is prepared in manuscript, and then to sign the declaration”.

Amendment of regulation 39 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

9.  In regulation 39 (particulars to be registered) for “1 to 8” substitute “1 to 7 and 9”.

Amendment of regulation 42 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

10.—(1) In regulation 42(1) (registration within twelve months from date of death where no report to coroner) for “1 to 8” substitute “1 to 7 and 9”.

(2) In regulation 42(4) for “8” substitute “9”.

(3) In regulation 42(5) for “1 to 8” substitute “1 to 7 and 9”.

(4) In regulation 42(6) after “54” insert “when the entry is being prepared in manuscript”.

(5) In regulation 42(7)(a) for “9” substitute “8”.

Amendment of regulation 42A of the Principal RegulationsE+W

11.—(1) In regulation 42A(2)(b) (declaration and registration under section 23A of the Act) after “omission,” insert “where the declaration is being prepared in manuscript”.

(2) In regulation 42A(4)(b) for “8” substitute “9” and in regulation 42A(4)(c) for “9” substitute “8”.

Amendment of regulation 43 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

12.—(1) In regulation 43(1) (registration where inquest is not held) for “1 to 8, in accordance with regulation 42(2) to (7) or, if a declaration is made for the purposes of section 23A of the Act, in accordance with regulation 42A(4) but subject, in relation to space 8 of form 13 (cause of death), to paragraphs (2) and (3) below” substitute “1 to 7 and 9, in accordance with regulation 42(2) to (7) or, if a declaration is made for the purposes of section 23A of the Act, in accordance with regulation 42A(4) but subject, in relation to space 9 of form 13 (cause of death), to paragraphs (2) and (3) below”.

(2) In regulation 43(2) for “8” substitute “9”.

(3) In regulation 43(3) for “8” substitute “9” in both places where it occurs.

Amendment of regulation 44 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

13.  In regulation 44(a) (noting of previous entry on coroner’s notification of cause of death) for “8” substitute “9”.

Amendment of regulation 45 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

14.—(1) In regulation 45(a) (registration after inquest) for “ 8” substitute “ 9”.

(2) In regulation 45(c) for “9” substitute “8”.

Amendment of regulation 49 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

15.  In regulation 49(2) (certificates and declaration for disposal) for “A registrar shall not give a certificate for disposal before registration except for the purpose of burial in England or Wales, and then only” substitute “A registrar may give a certificate for disposal before registration for the purpose of burial or cremation, in England and Wales, but only”.

Amendment of regulation 54 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

16.—(1) In regulation 54(1) (correction of entry before completion) after “Where under these Regulations a registrar is required to correct an error in an entry” insert “, which he is preparing in manuscript”.

(2) In regulation 54 omit paragraph 1(d).

(3) In regulation 54(2) omit “and the registrar shall number the error and make an entry in the margin as provided in paragraph (1)(d)”.

Amendment of regulation 55 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

17.—(1) In regulation 55(1) (correction of minor clerical errors after completion)—

(a)omit “on or after 1st April 1969”; and

(b)for “except where paragraph (4) applies, correct the error as provided in regulation 54(1)(a), (b), (c) or (e) whichever is appropriate” substitute “correct the error as provided in regulation 55(3)”.

(2) In regulation 55(2)(c) for “by regulation 10(1)(b)(ii),(iii) or (iv), 13(4)(b), 17(2)(b)(i) or 34A(4)(c)(ii) or (iii)” substitute “under these Regulations”.

(3) In regulation 55(2)(cc) for “by regulation 17(2)(c), 17(4)(c), 20(3)(c), or 22(d)” substitute “under these Regulations”.

(4) In regulations 55(2) (e) (i) and (ii) for “8” substitute “9”.

(5) In regulation 55 for paragraph (3) substitute—

“(3) Where any correction is made under paragraph (1), the superintendent registrar or registrar concerned shall enter a marginal note providing details of the correction and where an error has occurred the following wording shall apply—

“In space [or column].. .. corrected to.. .. on .. ..by me .. .. registrar [or superintendent registrar]”

and the registrar or superintendent registrar shall complete and sign the note in the places provided;

where an omission has occurred the following wording shall apply —

“In space [or column] .. .. for .. .. read .. .. corrected on .. .. by me .. .. registrar [or superintendent registrar]”

and the registrar or superintendent registrar shall complete and sign the note in the places provided; and

where particulars have been transposed the following wording shall apply —

“The particulars in .. .. .. and .. .. inadvertently transposed”,

and the registrar or superintendent registrar shall complete and sign the marginal note. ”.

(6) Omit regulation 55(4).

Amendment of regulation 56 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

18.—(1) For regulation 56(1) (correction of other minor clerical errors after completion) substitute—

“(1) Where it appears or is represented to the superintendent registrar or the registrar that there is any clerical error to which this regulation applies in a completed entry made on the information of a qualified informant in a register of live-births in his custody, he shall correct the error in the presence of an informant.”.

(2) For regulation 56(2) substitute—

“(2) Where an error is corrected in accordance with paragraph (1) the following wording shall apply—

“In space [or column] .. ..corrected to .. .. on .. .. by me .. .. registrar [or superintendent registrar] in the presence of..”,

and where an omission is corrected in accordance with paragraph (1) the following wording shall apply—

“In space [or column] .. .. for .. .. read.. .. corrected on .. .. by me .. .. registrar [or superintendent registrar] in the presence of … ”

and the registrar or superintendent registrar shall complete and sign the note in the places provided.”.

(3) In paragraph 3 for “Subject to paragraph (4), this” substitute “This”.

(4) Omit regulation 56(4) and (5).

Amendment of regulation 57 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

19.—(1) In regulation 57(1) (correction of other clerical errors after completion) omit “on or after 1st April 1969”.

(2) In regulation 57(2) omit “in the manner provided in Regulation 54(1)(a), (b), (c) or (e) whichever is appropriate”.

(3) For regulation 57(3) and (4) substitute—

“(3) Where any correction is made under paragraph (2) the registrar or the superintendent registrar concerned shall enter a marginal note in the following form—

“In space [or column] .. .. corrected to .. .. on .. .. by me.. ..[registrar or superintendent registrar] in the presence of .. on the authority of the Registrar General”

and he shall complete and sign the note in the places provided, whereupon—

(a)the informant shall sign the note in the place provided; and

(b)the superintendent registrar or the registrar concerned shall after the signature of the informant add the informant’s qualification for giving information concerning the correction.

(4) Where no qualified informant is available to witness the correction, the superintendent registrar or the registrar concerned shall write a marginal note in the following form—

“In space [or column] …corrected to …..on …. by me ….. registrar [or superintendent registrar] on the authority of the Registrar General”

and he shall complete and sign the note in the places provided.”.

Amendment of regulation 58 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

20.  In regulation 58 (correction of errors of fact or substance) omit paragraph 2(a).

Amendment of regulation 59 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

21.—(1) In regulation 59(1)(a) (correction of error on coroner’s certificate) omit “in respect of any entry made on or after 1st April 1969”.

(2) For regulation 59 (2) substitute—

“(2) Where the error is a clerical error, the superintendent registrar or the registrar shall correct the error by entering a marginal note in the following form—

“Clerical error in space [or column] .. .. .. corrected to .. .. .. on .. .. .. by me .. .. .. registrar [or superintendent registrar ] on receipt of notification from the Coroner”,

and he shall complete and sign the note in the places provided.”.

(3) In regulation 59(3) omit paragraph (a).

(4) For regulation 59(3)(b) substitute—

“(b)entering a marginal note in the following form—

“In space [or column] .. .. .. corrected to .. .. ..on .. .. ..by me .. .. .. registrar [or superintendent registrar] on the authority of a certificate from the Coroner”,”.

Regulation 60 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

22.  Regulation 60 (correction of clerical errors in entries made before 1^st April 1969) is omitted.

Amendment of regulation 61 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

23.—(1) regulation 61(1) (copy of corrected or annotated entry to be sent to Registrar General) omit from “(and paragraph (b) does not apply)” to “has been certified”.

(2) After regulation 61(3) insert —

“(4) Where the information in a completed entry in a register of live-births, still-births or deaths exists in an electronic form approved by the Registrar General under the Act, then the information in a correction or annotation made under paragraph (1) must be incorporated into the information in that electronic form after the correction or annotation has been made. ”.

Amendment of regulation 70A of the Principal RegulationsE+W

24.  In regulation 70A (transmission of draft particulars) for “if prepared on a computer, be transmitted on a computer disk or via a telephonic link” substitute “if prepared electronically be transmitted electronically”.

Amendment of regulation 71 of the Principal RegulationsE+W

25.  In regulation 71(b) (quarterly returns) after “the form of certificate” insert “, unless section 26(1)(b)(ii) of the Act applies,”.

Substitution of form 13 in Schedule 2 to the Principal RegulationsE+W

26.—(1) In Schedule 2 (prescribed forms) for form 13 substitute form 13 in Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

(2) Where for any district the Registrar General has not approved the use of an electronic form of communication under sections 13, 26 and 27 of the Act, the form 13 in Schedule 2 to the Principal Regulations before the amendment made by paragraph 1 shall be used instead of that in the Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

Amendment of the Welsh Language Regulations 1987E+W

27.—(1) Amend the Welsh Language Regulations as follows.

(2) In regulation 6 for “8” substitute “9”.

(3) In Schedule 2, for form 10, substitute form 10 in Schedule 2 to these Regulation.

(4) In Schedule 3, for the entries in columns (1), (2) and (3) relating to regulations 55(3), 56(2), 57(3), 57(4), 58(2)(b), 59(2) and 59(3) substitute the equivalent entries in the table in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

Regulation 26(1)

SCHEDULE 1E+WForm 13

PARTICULARS OF DEATHE+W

Regulation 27(3)

SCHEDULE 2E+WForm 10

PARTICULARS OF DEATHE+W

TABLE OF EQUIVALENT ENTRIESE+W

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987 and the Registration of Births and Deaths (Welsh Language) Regulations 1987. They make amendments to the procedure for the registration of births and deaths following the introduction of an electronic method of communication between registrars, superintendent registrars and the Registrar General. They also make provision for more detailed marginal notes when corrections are made to entries. They introduce a minor change to Form 13. They also provide an amendment to regulation 49 of the Principal Regulations which allows a registrar to give a certificate for disposal of a deceased person prior to burial, to apply also in the case of cremation.

These regulations do not impose a charge on business.