asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many United Kingdom citizens have registered a change of name with the Registrar General in each of the last five years; and whether arrangements are made to alert all appropriate government departments of such name changes.[HL7265]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from the Director of Macroeconomics and Labour Market at the General Register Office, Colin Mowl, to the Lord Marlesford, dated 31 July 2006.

The Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many United Kingdom citizens have registered a change of name with the Registrar General in each of the last five years; and whether arrangements are made to alert all appropriate Government departments to such name changes. I am replying in her absence. (HL7265)

There is no provision for United Kingdom citizens to register a change of name with the Registrar General for England and Wales. The only name changes that may be recorded in the birth register are those given to infants within 12 months of birth registration. There are different provisions in force for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

There is no legal requirement for individuals to register a change of name. There is however a facility to make a deed poll and enrol the change with the Royal Courts of Justice. After 5 years, deed polls that have been recorded in this way are deposited with the National Archive at Kew.