Overview

This bill proposes the creation of a "certificate of loss" for mothers who have experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth, where the child is ineligible for registration under current law. The certificate will provide official recognition of the pregnancy loss and allow for the creation of a national database to archive this information.

Description

The Certificate of Loss Bill mandates the issuance of a certificate to mothers following a miscarriage or stillbirth if the child is not registered under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953. This requires confirmation from a medical professional. The certificate will include details such as the child's estimated age (if available), the parents' names, and the date of the miscarriage or stillbirth. Additional information may be specified by the Secretary of State through regulations. A publicly accessible database will be created to store these certificates, also recording the cause of loss where known. The Secretary of State will also designate a body to act as the registrar. All regulations must be approved by both Houses of Parliament.

Key Aspects:

• Provides official recognition of miscarriages and stillbirths not currently registered.
• Creates a national database for archiving certificates and relevant information.
• Requires medical confirmation of pregnancy loss.
• Specifies information to be included on the certificate.
• The bill applies to England and Wales only.
• The bill will come into effect 12 months after being passed.

Government Spending

The bill does not specify any direct figures for government spending, but costs will be incurred in setting up and maintaining the database and the administrative processes required to issue certificates.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• Mothers experiencing miscarriage or stillbirth: They will benefit from official recognition of their loss.
• Medical professionals: They will be involved in confirming pregnancy loss and providing relevant information.
• The designated registrar: Responsible for issuing certificates and managing the database.
• The UK Government: Responsible for funding the database and overseeing implementation of the bill.

Powered by nyModel