Press Release

 

Both Parents to be registered on Birth Certificate, says DWP

 

• John Hutton today announces a green paper on the joint registration of parents on birth certificates.

 

• Families Need Fathers welcomes the recognition of a child’s right to have both their parents recorded.
   

 

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has today issued a written statement introducing the joint registration of parents on birth certificates. At present 7% of these contain only the mother.

 

A consultation will follow today’s announcement of the Green Paper, to ascertain whether there is in fact a need for legislation or whether guidance to Registry offices and public information campaigns would be sufficient.

 

The measures would bring a duty on both parents to register and failure to do so could result in a fine for the offending parent. There will be consultation on exceptions, such as births resulting from rape.

 

FNF Chair John Baker welcomes the proposals. “It takes two to make a child. The bureaucracy has at last recognised that children have a right to have both of their parents recorded. There will of course be cases where one or both parents are unfit to have any parenting role. These need to be identified and the children protected. However, these rare cases should not call into question the general principle.”

 

The Green Paper will be found on the DWP website from 12 pm today.

 

 

-  ENDS -

Note for editors: Families Need Fathers (FNF) is a registered charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s relationship with both parents. Founded in 1974, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.

 

 

 

Please see Families Need Fathers Manifesto

For comment or information please contact us