Requirement for NHS numbers to register a birth

Dear Identity & Passport Service,

Lots of registry offices are insisting on National Health Service
numbers to register a birth. For example, Islington.

However, the regulations and the 1953 Act for Birth just specify 15
items that need to be provided, and the NHS number is not one of
those.

Now there will be cases where births take place without an NHS
professional being present.

So I would like to request some pieces of information

1. All internal documents, emails and policies relating to the
provision of NHS numbers.

2. Database schemas used to record information relating to births

3. Any documents relating to the flow of information too and from
the IPS and registrars relating to births

4. Internal manuals and/or guidelines for the process for a
registrar to register a birth

5. The number of refusals to register a birth because of the lack
of an NHS number.

Yours faithfully,

Nick Leaton

Dear Identity & Passport Service,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Identity & Passport
Service's handling of my FOI request 'Requirement for NHS numbers
to register a birth'.

The time period for a response has expired and no information has
been forthcoming.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/re...

Yours faithfully,

Nick Leaton

Dear Hughes Selwyn,

Thank you for your reply.

My original request for an internal review still stands.

However, I would like to add to this review on the grounds that the
IPS has failed to supply the information requested.

In particular although you claim exemption on grounds of costs, you
have failed to break down which data is too expensive to supply.

What are the breakdowns of costs as to each item?

For example this question.

4. Internal manuals and/or guidelines for the process for a
registrar to register a birth

I cannot believe that the IPS does not have a PDF or equivalent of
the manuals given to registrars. I cannot either believe that its
going to cost more than 600 pounds to either mail or better still
email the manuals as a response to the FOI request.

If it does cost 600 pounds to do so, then I will certainly be
making FOI requests as to how you've managed to escalate the costs
of making a copy of a manual in excess of that sum.

Yours sincerely,

Nick Leaton