There are 4 attachments to this publication. Those are the 4 signed determinations for each of the 4 groups of councils. The wording below reflects the approval for group 1.
Background information
A determination by the Registrar General that registers may be electronic rather than paper-based is required to help implement the Calling in the Register Pages project.
This project aims to ensure that the life event registers (birth, still-birth, death, marriage, civil partnership, Register of Corrections Etc) are held electronically, rather than on paper.
There are powers in section 32(1A) of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 which enable the Registrar General to determine that a register of births, deaths, still-births or marriages or the Register of Corrections Etc. may be electronic rather than paper-based. Section 29 of the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022, by amending provision in the Civil Partnership Act 2004, has added a power for the Registrar General to determine that a civil partnership register may be electronic.
Significant IT development work has been carried out by NRS IT to enable:
- the existing FER Registration System to produce digital register pages,
- these pages to be made available, as usual, to customers on the existing SFHS and ScotlandsPeople systems,
- permanent archive quality images of the digital register pages to be stored on the existing NR Scotland network.
A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) has been carried out by NRS to ensure that any risks relating to data storage have been properly addressed. In addition, the appendix to the DPIA explains how when a registration is still completed on paper, the record of that registration can be scanned in so it can be stored electronically.
Guidance will be supplied to registrars to make them fully aware of the system changes.
The project will be implemented from 6 February 2024 on a phased approach, beginning with Group 1, 8 early adopter councils (Argyll and Bute Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Clackmannanshire Council, East Ayrshire Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, Fife Council, Scottish Borders Council, West Lothian Council). A further determination will be required in regard to the remaining 24 councils. The Register of Corrections Etc will be considered in due course separately.
National Records of Scotland
Date: 31/01/24
REGISTRAR GENERAL DETERMINATION ON ELECTRONIC REGISTERS
- In accordance with section 32(1A) of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 and section 95(3ZA) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004, the Registrar General for Scotland determines that the registers specified in paragraph (2) may be electronic rather than paper-based in the registration districts specified in paragraph (3).
- The registers mentioned in paragraph (1) are the registers of births, deaths, still-births, marriages and the civil partnership register.
- The registration districts mentioned in paragraph (1) are Argyll and Bute Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Clackmannanshire Council, East Ayrshire Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, Fife Council, Scottish Borders Council, and West Lothian Council.
- This determination has effect from 6 February 2024.
