2015 No. 180

Registration Of Births, Deaths & Marriages, Etc.

The Registration of Births, Still-births, Deaths and Marriages (Prescription of Forms) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2015

Made

Laid before the Scottish Parliament

Coming into force

The Registrar General makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 21(2), 21(4), 27(1) and 54(1)(b) of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 19651 and all other powers enabling him to do so.

In accordance with section 54(1) of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 19652, the Scottish Ministers have approved the making of these Regulations.

Citation and commencement1

These Regulations may be cited as the Registration of Births, Still-births, Deaths and Marriages (Prescription of Forms) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2015 and come into force on 13th May 2015.

Amendment of the Registration of Births, Still-births, Deaths and Marriages (Prescription of Forms) (Scotland) Regulations 19972

1

The Registration of Births, Still-births, Deaths and Marriages (Prescription of Forms) (Scotland) Regulations 19973 are amended as follows.

2

For the form set out in Schedule 6 (Certificate of Still-birth), substitute the form set out in Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

3

For the form set out in Schedule 8 (Certificate of Registration of Still-birth), substitute the form set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

4

For the form set out in Schedule 14 (Certificate of Registration of Death), substitute the form set out in Schedule 3 to these Regulations.

TIM ELLISRegistrar General for ScotlandNew Register House,Edinburgh

Approved by the Scottish Ministers

FIONA HYSLOPA member of the Scottish GovernmentSt Andrew’s House,Edinburgh

SCHEDULE 1Form 6

Regulation 2(2)

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SCHEDULE 2Form 8

Regulation 2(3)

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SCHEDULE 3Form 14

Regulation 2(4)

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Registration of Births, Still-births, Deaths and Marriages (Prescription of Forms) (Scotland) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2348, “the principal Regulations”). Regulation 2 of these Regulations substitutes a revised “Certificate of Still-birth” for the form prescribed in Schedule 6 to the principal Regulations; a revised “Certificate of Registration of Still-birth” for the form prescribed in Schedule 8 to the principal Regulations; and a revised “Certificate of Registration of Death” for the form prescribed in Schedule 14 to the principal Regulations.

The revised Form 6 prescribes additional medical information to be included about the still-born child, namely the presence of any hazards. The definition of still-birth has been removed and is provided for in the guidance referred to in the Form. The Form prescribes that the certifying doctor or midwife must identify whether they were present or not present at the still-birth. In the previous version of the Form, the certifying doctor or midwife required to indicate whether they were present at the still-birth or whether they examined the body of the still-born child. The Form also prescribes that the certifying doctor or midwife must advise whether the still-birth was reported to the Procurator Fiscal. The Form prescribes certain other additional information including General Medical Council/Nursing and Midwifery Council (GMC/NMC) numbers and contact details for the certifying doctor or midwife to increase identification of, and enhance communication with, certifying medical professionals by others who may need to contact them, such as funeral industry staff. The Form includes the addition of a line about the sex of the child. The Form further requires additional information on the mother and location of the still-birth and any extra information that may be relevant to facilitate improved public health information and statistics around still-birth. The layout of the Form has also been improved for ease of completion.

The revised Form 8 prescribes additional medical information to be included about the still-born child, namely the presence of any hazards.

The revised Form 14 prescribes additional medical information to be included about the deceased, namely the presence of any hazards.

The revised Forms effect the changes in the law from the Certification of Death (Scotland) Act 2011.