1 INTRODUCTION
2. On 22 July 2004 the Government laid before Parliament
a proposal for the Regulatory Reform (Registration of Births and
Deaths) (England and Wales) Order 2004 in the form of a draft
of the Order and an explanatory memorandum and Regulatory Impact
Assessment prepared by the General Register Office (part of the
Office for National Statistics, and one of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer's Departments).
3. The House has instructed us to examine the proposal
against the criteria specified in Standing Order No. 141 (6) and
to report in the light of our examination whether the Government
should proceed with a Regulatory Reform Order in the form of the
proposal, should amend their proposals before laying a revised
draft of the Order or whether the Order should not be made.[1]
4. Our discussion of matters arising from the proposal
is set out below.
5. In the course of deliberations on the proposal,
we sought written comment from any interested party and we received
letters from 42 individuals, companies and other bodies. We also
took oral evidence from UNISON, the Society of Registration Officers,
the Federation of Family History Societies, the National Council
on Archives and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury and his
officials from the General Register Office.[2]
During our oral evidence sessions we were pleased to be joined
by Dr Brian Iddon MP, who is Patron of the Society of Registration
Officers. We also acknowledge the assistance of the Scrutiny
Unit of the Department of the Clerk of the House and of the House
of Commons Library. We are grateful to all those who have assisted
us with our scrutiny of the proposal.
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