Registration in a UK Devolved Administration European Association of Registrars – 13 th Congress

1. Registration in a UK Devolved Administration European Association of Registrars – 13th Congress May 13-14, 2013 Bled, Slovenia Rod Burns Deputy Registrar General for Scotland

2. Introduction • Relatively new to world of registration (April 2011) • 10 years’ experience in devolved policy-making prior to joining NRS • Without a doubt, DRG by far the best job I’ve ever had • Like to share some perspectives from time in post • Try to balance a sense of intrinsic worth of the job with devolved aspects

3. Scotland and the UK – Devolution • 1997 new Labour administration, referendum on Scottish Parliament • Scotland Act 1998 – radical constitutional settlement, registration devolved • July 1999 – Scottish Parliament, Scottish Executive convened • Since 2007 ‘Scottish Executive’ known as ‘Scottish Government’ • SNP administration announced 2014 referendum on Scottish independence

4. Scotland Compared to England/Wales – Historic Differences • NRS a non-ministerial department of Scottish Government • GRO E&W part of the Home Office (Identity and Passport Office) • Separate foundation dates for statutory registration (1855/1837 E&W) • As with education, legal system and so on, entirely separate system • Lots of ongoing practical differences, range of areas

5. Contemporary Practice – Marriage • England authorises marriage venues, Scotland celebrants • Church of England handles legal preliminaries (all by registrars in Scotland) • 7 day residence requirement; notification by post in Scotland • Designated offices for immigration issues (all Scottish offices designated) • 2 registrars attend (1 solemnise, 1 register); 1 registrar in Scotland

6. Contemporary Practice – Death etc Registration • Deaths registered in district where occurred; any district in Scotland • (Also applies to registration of births) • Completed registers held by superintendent registrar • Registers owned/held by NRS centrally; also primarily electronic • No formal change of name service in England

7. Contemporary Practice – IT • First electronic registration system replaced in Scotland by FER, late 1990s • Forward Electronic Register – centrally developed, maintained, supported • Primary source of information – register entries, statistical information • Equivalent in England RON (Registration On-line) • FER explicitly developed in partnership with registrars – based on identified needs

8. Contemporary Practice – Education and Training • Specialised registration qualification in Scotland (since 1937) • Certificate of Proficiency in the Law and Practice of Registration in Scotland • Dedicated central training support for registrars, multiple exam settings • Moving to computerised examination shortly • Builds on partnership model for Scottish registration service

9. International Dimensions – CIEC • Interesting fact – Scotland leads for UK in CIEC (British section) • Longstanding engagement, continuing to end 2013 • Scotland one of 6 countries participating in CDEP pilot work • After 2013, UK as state entity withdrawing from CIEC membership • Scotland (sub-state entity) must also withdraw; significant brake on actions

10. Lessons Learned • Even in small islands (less than 900 miles long), huge variety of practice • History of separate registration systems enabled devolved practice • Devolution allowed individual registration legislation to pass • LEARS Act gave broad powers to RG – data sharing, ownership, authority • Not insular (work extensively with E/W and NI), but distinct

11. Lessons Learned – continued • Current constitutional arrangements allow radically different systems/results • Same sex marriage likely to be adopted in E/W and Scotland, but not NI • Flexibility of policy-making available to Ministers • Key example – certification of death systems (response to Shipman case) • Medical reviewers checking 100% of death entries in E/W, 27% Scotland

12. The Future • Scottish Ministers recently announced date for independence referendum • September 18, 2014 – watch the news! • If adopted, potentially huge implications for NRS and registration • Under independence many new ‘Scottish’ functions (tax, benefits, passports) • No idea what will happen, but will be ‘interesting times’

13. History of Partnership – • Association of Registrars of Scotland • In concluding, wanted to stress long partnership with ARoS • GROS/now NRS works extensively with ARoS as key stakeholder • Hugely valued expertise, responsiveness, representation • 2015 is 150th anniversary of the Association, wish happy birthday • Will continue rich partnership for improvement of registration in Scotland

14. Conclusion, Apologies • Thanks for opportunity to share some thoughts • Happy to take questions • Must apologise for text-based presentation, lack of traditional images • Few pictures to leave you with • But bear in mind Scotland more complex, interesting place than this!