Registration Service Act 1953
1953 c.37An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to the registration service in England and Wales with corrections and improvements made under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949.
Registrar General, etc.¶
1 Registrar General.¶
2 General Register Office.¶
The offices of the Registrar General shall be known as the General Register Office and any place in which any registers or records in the custody of the Registrar General by virtue of this or any other Act are deposited by direction of the Registrar General with the approval of the Treasury shall, so long as those registers or records are there deposited, be deemed to be part of the General Register Office.3 Registrar General’s staff, etc.¶
4 Salaries, receipts and expenses.¶
General organisation of registration service¶
5 Districts and sub-districts.¶
6 Superintendent registrars and registrars of births and deaths.¶
F38...
F427 Additional registrars of marriages.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Deputy superintendent registrars and registrars.¶
9 Interim superintendent registrars and registrars.¶
10 District register offices.¶
11 Sub-district offices, etc.¶
12 Provision of register boxes.¶
The Registrar General shall provide such number of strong fire-resisting boxes as may be required to hold the registers kept by each registrar of births and deaths and registrar of marriages.Local organisation of registration service¶
13 Local schemes of organisation.¶
C7C1914 Preparation, submission and approval of local schemes.¶
Provided that a scheme prepared by the Registrar General and approved by the Minister under the last foregoing subsection may be varied or revoked either by a subsequent scheme so prepared and approved or by a subsequent scheme submitted by the council concerned and approved by the Minister in accordance with this section.
General provisions as to officers¶
15 Delivery up of books, etc. on ceasing to hold office.¶
F5316 General provision as to fees.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14¶
F3518 Temporary provisions as to non-salaried officers.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miscellaneous and general¶
C11C1819 Annual abstract. C10¶
The Statistics Board shall send to the Minister for the Cabinet Office annually, in such form as the Minister for the Cabinet Office may from time to time require, a general abstract of the number of live-births, still-births, deaths , marriages and civil partnerships registered in the year last preceding and the Minister for the Cabinet Office shall within one month after receipt thereof or of the meeting of Parliament lay that abstract before each House of Parliament.19A Functions relating to transmission of information to Secretary of State¶
19AA Disclosure of information¶
19AB Specified public authorities¶
- “enactment” includes an enactment contained in subordinate legislation within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978;
- “public authority” means a person who exercises functions of a public nature.
19AC Code of practice¶
19B Fees F55...¶
C12C13C14C2020 Regulations.¶
The Registrar General with the approval of the Minister may by statutory instrument make regulations—21 Interpretation.¶
- “ civil registration official” has the meaning given by section 19AA;
- “local scheme” means the scheme or schemes made under section fourteen of this Act for the time being in force for the non-metropolitan county or metropolitan district in question;
- “the Minister” means the Secretary of State;
- “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under the last foregoing section;
22 Savings.¶
23 Repeals and consequential amendments. C15¶
24 Short title, extent and commencement.¶
C16FIRST SCHEDULE ¶
Consequential Amendments in other Enactments
Section 23.
A. The Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1836 (6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 86)¶
B. The Non-parochial Registers Act, 1840 (3 & 4 Vict. c. 92)¶
C. The Marriage and Registration Act, 1856 (19 & 20 Vict. c. 119)¶
D. The Marriage Act, 1949 (12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 76)¶
F26F26SECOND SCHEDULE ¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F26
Footnotes
- C1Act extended (prosp.) by 2002 c. 38, ss. 78(4), 148 (with Sch. 4 paras. 1, 6-8)
- C2Act amended by S.I. 1971/1732, art. 5(7)
- C3Power to extend Act conferred by British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61, SIF 87), s. 41(4)(5)
- C4Act amended by Marriage Act 1983 (c. 32, SIF 49:1), s. 2(1)
- I1Act wholly in force at 1.10.1953 see s. 24(3).
- F1Words substituted by virtue of S.I. 1968/1656, arts. 2(1)(a), 3(2)
- F2Words substituted by virtue of S.I. 1968/1656, arts. 2(1)(a), 3(2)
- C5S. 4(2) extended by S.I. 1982/1526, art. 3
- F3Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(1)
- M11949 c. 76.
- F4Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(2)
- F5Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(3)
- F6Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(4)
- F7Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(1)
- F8Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(2)
- F9Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(1)
- C6S. 13(2)(3) applied (8.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/3118, art. 2(1)
- F10Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(2)
- M21929 c. 17
- F11Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(4)
- C7S. 14: functions of the Secretary of State transferred (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/273, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 9(a)
- F12Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(2)
- C8S. 14(4) applied (8.1.1997) by S.I. 1996/3118, art. 2(1)
- C9S. 15(1) modified (12.4.1994) by S.I. 1994/867, reg. 22(2)(b)
- F13Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 46
- F14S. 17 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1986 (c. 12), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VII
- C10S. 19 amended by Population (Statistics) Act 1960 (c. 32), s. 4
- C11S. 19: functions of the Secretary of State transferred (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/273, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 9(b)
- C12S. 20 extended (1.7.1992) by Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5), ss. 124(1), 192(4), Sch. 10 para. 3.
- C13S. 20 extended by Social Security Act 1975 (c. 14), s. 160(1)
- C14S. 20: functions of the Secretary of State transferred (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/273, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 9(c)
- F15Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(5)
- F16Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(2)
- M31949 c. 76.
- M41953 c. 20.
- F17Words repealed by London Government Act 1963 (c. 33), Sch. 18 Pt. II
- F18S. 21(2)(a) repealed by London Government Act 1963 (c. 33), Sch. 18 Pt. II
- F19Words substituted by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 29 para. 41(6)
- F20Words substituted by virtue of London Government Act 1963 (c. 33), s. 4(2)(a)
- F21Words in s. 21 (2)(b) added (1.10.1995) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6), Sch. 16 para. 12; S.I. 1995/2490, art. 5(1)(2)(3), Sch. 3
- C15The text of s. 23 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
- F22S. 23(2), Sch. 2 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974 (c. 22), Sch. Pt. XI
- F23Sch.1 paras. 3, 6, 9 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977 (c. 18), Sch. 1 Pt. XIX
- F24Sch.1 paras. 3, 6, 9 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977 (c. 18), Sch. 1 Pt. XIX
- F25Sch.1 paras. 3, 6, 9 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977 (c. 18), Sch. 1 Pt. XIX
- C16The text of Sch. 1 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
- F26S. 23(2), Sch. 2 repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974 (c. 22), Sch. Pt. XI
- F27Sch. 1 para. 1 repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 10
- F28Sch. 1 para. 4 repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 10
- F29Sch. 1 para. 5 repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 10
- F30Sch. 1 para. 7 repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 10
- F31Sch. 1 para. 8 repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 10
- F32Sch. 1 paras. 10-13 FIRST repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 10
- F33Sch. 1 para. 14(b)-(d) repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 10
- F34Sch. 1 para. 15(b)-(d) repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 10
- F35S. 18 repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 10
- F36S. 22(1) repealed (22.7.2004) by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2004 (c. 14), Sch. 1 Pt. 17 Group 10
- F37Words in s. 19 substituted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Overseas Relationships and Consequential, etc. Amendments) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3129), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 2
- C17Act extended (30.12.2005) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), ss. 78(4), 148(1) (with Sch. 4 paras. 1, Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(e)
- F38S. 6(1) proviso repealed (1.12.2007) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), ss. 70(2)(a), 74(1), Sch. 4 Pt. 2; S.I. 2007/3388, art. 2(i)
- F39Words in s. 6(3) substituted (1.12.2007) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), ss. 70(2)(b)(i), 74(1); S.I. 2007/3388, art. 2(i)
- F40Words in s. 6(3) repealed (1.12.2007) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), ss. 70(2)(b)(ii), 74(1), Sch. 4 Pt. 2; S.I. 2007/3388, art. 2(i)
- F41S. 6(4) repealed (1.12.2007) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), ss. 70(2)(c), 74(1), Sch. 4 Pt. 2; S.I. 2007/3388, art. 2(i)
- F42S. 7 repealed (1.12.2007) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), ss. 72, 74(1), Sch. 4 Pt. 2; S.I. 2007/3388, art. 2(i)
- F43S. 8 substituted (1.12.2007) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), ss. 71, 74(1); S.I. 2007/3388, art. 2(i)
- F44Words in s. 13(2)(f) repealed (1.12.2007) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), ss. 70(3), 74(1), Sch. 4 Pt. 2; S.I. 2007/3388, art. 2(i)
- F45Words in s. 15(1) repealed (1.12.2007) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), ss. 70(4), 74(1), Sch. 4 Pt. 2; S.I. 2007/3388, art. 2(i)
- C18S. 19 transfer of functions (1.4.2008) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), ss. 25(2)(b), 74(1); S.I. 2008/839, art. 2
- F46S. 1 renumbered as s. 1(1) (1.4.2008) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 c. 18, ss. 68(1)(a), 74(1), 2008 S.I. 839, art. 2
- F47S. 1(2)-(5) inserted (1.4.2008) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), ss. 68(1)(b), 74(1); S.I. 2008/839, art. 2
- F48Words in s. 19 substituted (1.4.2008) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), s. 74(1), Sch. 1 para. 9(a); S.I. 2008/839, art. 2
- F49Words in s. 19 substituted (1.4.2008) by Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (c. 18), s. 74(1), Sch. 1 para. 9(b); S.I. 2008/839, art. 2
- C19S. 14 transfer of functions (3.4.2008) by Transfer of Functions (Registration) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/678), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 7(a) (with art. 4)
- C20S. 20 transfer of functions (3.4.2008) by Transfer of Functions (Registration) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/678), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 7(b) (with art. 4)
- F50Words in s. 21 substituted (3.4.2008) by Transfer of Functions (Registration) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/678), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 7 (with art. 4)
- F51S. 19A inserted (8.5.2012) by Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5), ss. 135, 150(2)(h)
- F52S. 19B inserted (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), s. 94(1), Sch. 15 para. 3; S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(w)
- F53S. 16 omitted (12.7.2016) by virtue of Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), s. 94(1), Sch. 15 para. 32; S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(w)
- F54Ss. 19AA-19AC inserted (31.7.2017 for specified purposes, 1.5.2018 in so far as not already in force except for the purposes of N.I.) by Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), ss. 46(2), 119(4); S.I. 2017/765, reg, 2(o); S.I. 2018/382, reg. 3(k)
- F55Words in s. 19B heading omitted (1.5.2018 except for the purposes of N.I.) by virtue of Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), ss. 46(3)(c), 118(4)(6); S.I. 2018/382, reg. 3(k)
- F56S. 19B(1A) inserted (1.5.2018 except for the purposes of N.I.) by Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), ss. 46(3)(a), 118(4)(6); S.I. 2018/382, reg. 3(k)
- F57Words in s. 19B(2)(3) substituted (1.5.2018 except for the purposes of N.I.) by Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), ss. 46(3)(b), 118(4)(6); S.I. 2018/382, reg. 3(k)
- F58Words in s. 21(1) inserted (1.5.2018 except for the purposes of N.I.) by Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30), ss. 46(4), 118(4)(6); S.I. 2018/382, reg. 3(k)
- F59Words in s. 19AC(2) substituted (25.5.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 1(2) (with ss. 117, 209, 210, Sch. 20 para. 48); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)
- F60Words in s. 19AC(11) substituted (25.5.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 1(3) (with ss. 117, 209, 210, Sch. 20 para. 48); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)
- F61Word in s. 19AC(11) substituted (19.6.2025 for specified purposes, 20.8.2025 in so far as not already in force) by Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (c. 18), ss. 92(7), 142(1)(2)(h); S.I. 2025/904, reg. 2(f)