This Order amends the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1926 (c. 48) (the “1926 Act”) and the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (c. 20) (the “1953 Act”) to enable the use of electronic communications and storage for certain documents used in connection with the registration of births and deaths.

Article 2 amends the 1926 Act to enable the electronic transmission of death registration documents and notifications between the registrars and the persons effecting the disposal of the bodies.

Article 3 amends the 1953 Act to enable any notice, information, declaration, certificate, requisition, return or other document required under that Act to be provided by sending that document, or a copy of it, in an electronic form approved by the Registrar General. The amendments also enable certain prescribed declarations and certificates under the Act to be in an electronic form approved by the Registrar General.

A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is available from www.legislation.gov.uk. Hard copies can be obtained by writing to the Civil Registration Reform Team, General Register Office, Smedley Office, Smedley Hydro, Trafalgar Road, Birkdale, Southport PR8 2HH.