In answer to Seamus's email just posted and what I was able to glean yesterday and today, it seems the original email was possibly a hoax. This morning I contacted the Family Records Centre in London - http://www.familyrecords.gov.uk/partners/frc-partner.htm who issue copy BMD certificates. They say that if any application is made for a copy certificate, especially a birth certificate, they would like the applicant to provide the name of the person on the cert, their date of birth and parents names. In the case of a request for a birth certificate for a person born up to 50 years ago, if you did not have all the above information you would be asked why you wanted the certificate. This is to deter someone setting up a false identity. If you cannot provide the information, but mention you are researching your family history the cert. will be provided without hesitation. I am told that the important thing to remember is this information is in the public domain and there is no legislation that could prevent the information being provided to whoever asks for it. I hope that clears up the situation for researchers here in the UK. Moya Page (nee Banting) researching BANTING and PERREN in Hampshire