Policies and practices applied to the registration and administration of key life events

2019.10.08

6 Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding

the policies and practices applied to the registration and administration of key life events: (OQ.241/2019)

Will the Minister advise whether there are any policies, or practices, applied within his department, associated with the registration and administration of key life events such as births, civil partnerships and marriages whereby men and women are treated differently; and if so, will he explain why?

Connétable L. Norman of St. Clement (The Minister for Home Affairs):

Yes, I can confirm that policies and practices associated with the registration and administration of key life events may differ in relation to men and women, but this only occurs where it is appropriate. There are no differences between sexes, or genders, in relation to birth, civil partnerships and deaths; differences mainly feature in marriage. For example, men and women are treated differently when they want to remarry. Unless a man getting remarried has changed his name by deed poll, he will only have to include one surname on the marriage certificate. If a woman remarries, she will have to include all her previous names, including her maiden name and her previous married name.

1. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :

Can the Minister confirm that for the registration of births that men and women are now treated equally in the department in terms of the policies and specifically that women, who take their husband's name, do not need to go through a deed poll process to take their name and men who take their wife's name? Can the Minister confirm that men do not need to go through a deed poll process and they should not be treated differently to women and that these documents will not be requested of either sex at the birth registration process?

The Connétable of St. Clement :

That seemed quite a convoluted, long and complicated question, which I would rather have notice of before giving a definitive answer, because I did not really understand the question.

Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :

I can rephrase. When a couple go to register the birth of a child, is there any difference in treatment between the father and the mother? For example, is the father required to produce extra documentation that the mother is not?

The Connétable of St. Clement :

I really would need notice of that question to check the facts of that, because I am not 100 per cent sure. As the Deputy will understand, I do not deal with the day-to-day administration in the Registrar's office.

2. Deputy J.H. Perchard:

Can the Minister confirm whether it is the case that same sex couples, registering the birth of their child, are treated differently from non same sex couples when registering the birth of their child? When will he end the practice that has been reported that is the case that same sex couples cannot, in fact, put both parents' names on the birth certificate of their child, even if they are intending to raise the child in a household as a family unit together?

The Connétable of St. Clement :

I regret again I would have to check the situation. As far as I am concerned, everybody should be treated equally, but there are cultural differences, historic differences, traditional differences, why women take their husbands' names and so on, but before I can give a definitive answer to that I would need to have to check the facts.

[10:30]

3. Deputy L.M.C. Doublet :

Would the Minister commit to reviewing the policies and practices within this area of his department, to ensure that neither men, nor women, are discriminated against in the registration of key life events?

The Connétable of St. Clement :

I can confirm absolutely that there is no discrimination carried out in any department under the Home Affairs banner and if the Deputy has any evidence of discrimination, I hope she will bring it to my attention, or the attention of the appropriate officer within the department.