Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing new births to be registered over the phone where birth registry offices are closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
In England and Wales, the relevant legislation does not allow for birth registrations to be completed by telephone.
The Government is considering options for how births can be registered during the situation, whilst respecting prevailing public health guidance and regulations.