Forwarded with the author's kind permission. -------- Original Message -------- TRANSFER OF GRO TO IDENTITY & PASSPORT SERVICE The Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and creation of the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS), left the General Register Office (GRO) uncertain as to which government department it would move to from ONS for the next financial year. However it has been announced today that the GRO will become part of the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) from 1 April 2008. Under the new arrangements ONS will relinquish the registration role it currently holds. IPS is an Executive Agency of the Home Office, and is responsible for handling passport applications from UK Nationals. It employs over 3,500 staff at various locations around the UK. You can find more information about them on their website www.ips.gov.uk. The decision to make the transfer of GRO to IPS has been finalised following the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review. . A full statement on these changes can be found at www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/aboutus/lookingahead/registration-transfer.asp Maggie Loughran Administrator, Federation of Family History Societies www.ffhs.org.uk