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Ceremonies Could Strengthen Family Bonds

Ceremonies which bring together families to mark key events in life such as silver-weddings could in the future be provided through civil registrars.

Registrars already perform civil marriages and today's consultation paper Civil Registration in the 21st Century suggests that their role could be extended to less formal events, such as baby-naming or renewals of marriage vows, which could also provide a focus for family-gatherings.

The consultation was announced by the Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace. Commenting on it, Registrar General for Scotland John Randall said:

"The fundamental aim of this consultation paper is to identify possible changes which could improve and modernise the registration service so that it more effectively meets the needs of citizens in a changing world.

"Registration forms an essential part of the 'bedrock' of our society, providing an official record of the most basic events in our lives. That's why it is important that we find out where new technology can help make the process more user-friendly for the public.

"However, the leading role of civil registrars in marriage ceremonies shows that they now do more than record details. We think that families may wish to gather together to reinforce their common ties for other important events and want to gauge the demand.

"Much has changed since the Registration Act of 1965 and the time is now right, at the start of a new millennium and with a new Scottish Parliament, to review a number of aspects of the existing system."

The paper also suggests ways in which information technology could be used to put the needs of citizens first. For instance, parents registering their babies are currently required to attend a registration office which can sometimes be inconvenient. One suggestion is that 'flying' registrars could visit the wards with a laptop computer to take down details from parents and make the registration 'at the cotside'.

However, the benefits of the modernisation of the registration service could also extend beyond the border to all 'Jock Tamson's Bairns'. Exiled Scots in some countries are at present able to arrange that a birth, death or marriage is recorded at the General Register Office in Edinburgh in some circumstances. The paper proposes this facility is broadened more generally to the millions of people throughout the world with a Scottish connection so that their life events can be included as part of their family-history records in Scotland.

The consultation paper also invites views on changes to the process of registration of births and deaths; the uses of registration information; and marriage preliminaries, including whether public notices of forthcoming marriages should appear on the internet rather than local council noticeboards.

Notes for News Editors

1. The consultation paper was announced in response to a Scottish Parliamentary Question by Andy Kerr.
2. Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages was introduced in Scotland in 1855. The framework for the registration of births, deaths and marriages in Scotland is currently set by the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act of 1965. Arrangements for marriage preliminaries and the solemnisation of civil marriages are governed by the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977.
3. The registration service in Scotland is a partnership between the General Registrar Office for Scotland and the 32 councils. At present there are more than 300 registration districts in Scotland.
4. A 1998 Home Office Green Paper canvassed views on whether civil registrars could perform more ceremonies to mark life-events.
5. The consultation paper considers matters relating to civil registration. It does not canvas views on more fundamental matters of family law like same-sex partnerships.
6. Anyone with views on any aspect of registration of births, deaths or marriages is invited to write to the Registrar General either by e-mail (consultation@gro-scotland.gov.uk) or by post to New Register House, Edinburgh EH1 3YT. The paper itself will be available from [14:00 Friday 27 October 2000] at http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk or by post.