On 07/02/2015 09:31, Gordon wrote: > Good news but as this is an election year there could be a risk of it > becoming "unfinished business" and would the next government continue > with it, especially if it changes? Also, if "they" see it as a cashcow > it could end up just as expensive as a full certificate. Only time will > tell or am I being cynical!!! > > Gordon > > > "Iain Archer" wrote in message news:[email protected] > > I've just seen this, which I presume will be welcome news, on the SoG > website: > > "The Society of Genealogists is delighted to announce that the > Government has accepted an amendment to the Deregulation Bill currently > going before the House of Lords that allows for the publication of > information from Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates in England and > Wales to be issued otherwise than in the form of a certified copy ..." > <http://www.sog.org.uk/news/article/gro-information-on-births-marriages-a > nd-death-doesnt-have-to-on-expensive-c/> In considering possible ways forward, if this ever comes to pass, can I recommend the example of the Queensland Government historical BMD service. Although the certificates themselves are ruinously expensive the free search gives the parents' names in full which is a great help in resolving ambiguities without buying a lot of unwanted certificates. Although I appreciate that they are dealing with much smaller databases the Irish or Scottish model of providing downloadable photocopies relatively cheaply would also be welcome. David