Modernisation of Civil Registration LRSA Year Ahead Conference Prepared by S Henstock Presented to Delegates Date 11 May 2011 Version 1.0

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 2 Background Civil Registration commenced in 1837 Historical core purpose: –Provides citizens with a civil status in society –Provides public protection on deaths –Provides citizens with legal recognition of marriage / civil partnership –Gathers information to inform central and local government planning, particularly on health Functions are prescribed in statute Statute is overly restrictive, dated and not suitable for modern society Significant modernisation can only occur with changes to statute

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 3 Modernisation Initiatives White Paper Civil Registration: Vital Change in 2002 Consultation – Civil Registration: Delivering Vital Change 2003 Regulatory Reform Order (Births and Deaths) 2004 Partial modernisation achieved through: –Civil Partnership Act 2004 –Gender Recognition Act 2004 –Police and Justice Act 2006 –Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 –Introduction of new technology –Introduction of voluntary new governance arrangements for authorities Leaves significant areas where modernisation still required

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 4 Extract from Registration Service survey 2010 – Respondents made a range of suggestions for modernisation Aspects of civil registration to modernise to improve efficiency (Q29)

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 5 Future Model / Structure for the Registration Service Principles from LRSNP: Place duties on authorities to deliver registration services within a framework of national standards Remove the geographic limitations of the registration of events and the removal of the structure of districts, sub districts etc Remove the proscription on duties and post holders Allow for authorities to work across boundaries to encourage opportunities for shared services Enable authorities to integrate registration services into other services within framework of national standards Review relationship between RS and GRO – “Enabling, not controlling”” Explore opportunities to widen RS involvement in central government processes and projects

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 6 Registration of births, deaths and stillbirths Principles from LRSNP: Remove geographic limitations on the registration of events Allow for registration in person, by post, by phone or on line Make the electronic record the legal record (remove need for registers) Consider ID check at point of registration Allow for birth records to be updated with subsequent changes of name

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 7 Marriages and Civil Partnerships Principles from LRSNP: Universal civil preliminaries – consider universal civil marriage registrations Remove the limitations on time and place of event, including allowing “open air” ceremonies Greater flexibility on time for approved premises licences if still required Introduce the celebrant model Remove requirement for two officers to attend a marriage Introduce a schedule system and move away from registers Allow for notice to be given anywhere

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 8 Access to Records Principles from LRSNP: Allow for wider sharing of registration data within central/ local government and other authorised users Provide authorities with access to the national database of records Wider and more public access to historic records on line Restricted access to modern records Allow for historic records to be archived when digitised records available Link records (through life records) Allow for different extracts and “clean” records to be produced

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 9 Charging and Funding Principles from LRSNP: Introduce a revised fee and funding structure

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 10 Current Context / Drivers Public Sector Reform White Paper – 2011 The Coalition Programme for Government - themes –Reduce centralisation and top down control –Redistribute power from central to local government –Reduce costs in public sector –Provide citizens with choice and control over their lives –Remove red tape and unnecessary burdens GRO is part of the Identity and Passport Service Priorities are set by Home Office.

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 11 IPS Purpose and Principles

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 12 Current approach Changes we can make without legislation ‘Piggy-backing’ on other bills eg Protection of Freedoms Bill Seek approval for bill Review and update policy objectives – align with IPS, HO and wider Government policy Engage with stakeholders Analysis of options, benefits, risks, issues Develop business case Formal consultation as required

Identity and Passport ServiceV1.0 Not Protectively Marked 13 Questions ?