I would like to request under the Freedom of Information Act data I believe to be held by your authority concerning marriages.
In particular, I would like to request information on:
1. What documentation prospective couples have to present to prove they are not related.
2. I would like to know the number of marriages which were blocked or prevented from proceeding because of a lack of this proof.
3. In addition, I would like to know the number of marriages in your area for the past five years.
4. Can you break down this figure to show marriages between First Cousins?
5. This figure be broken down to include the ethnicity of both parties and their gender.
6. Also, I would like to know any policy or guidance you may have concerning the marriage of first or second cousins.
Registration officers and anyone who acts on their behalf in carrying out statutory registration duties are outside the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Superintendent registrars and registrars are not a public authority as defined in the Act and, therefore, are not subject to its provisions. Data held by them – including information held in birth / death / marriage registers is thus not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.