Written question asked by Colin Challen (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 April 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 April 2006. It was answered by John Healey (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 April 2006 on behalf of the Treasury.

Secular Baby-naming Ceremonies

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that registrars make those registering births aware of providers of secular baby-naming ceremonies in addition to those ceremonies provided on a commercial basis by registrars themselves.

Answer: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.Letter from Dennis Roberts, dated 25 April 2006:"The Registrar General has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking that registrars make those registering births aware of providers of secular baby-naming ceremonies in addition to those provided on a commercial basis by registrars themselves. I am replying ill her absence. (65142)""Registrars are statutory office holders who are appointed by local authorities to carry out duties relating to the registration of births, still-births, deaths and marriages. Their statutory duties do not include performing-baby-naming ceremonies but registrars may be involved in delivering ceremonies as a local authority function. Any arrangements for information about independently operated baby-naming ceremonies being made available by registrars would be a matter for individual local authorities."

Secondary information