Mr. Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many British nationals died overseas in each year since 1997; [92845]
(2) how many deaths of British nationals overseas were registered in the UK in each year since 1997. [92846]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 12 October 2006:
As Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning the number of deaths of British nationals overseas were registered in the UK in each year since 1997 (92845, 92846).
There is no provision for the registration in this country of births, deaths or marriages of British nationals abroad. However, these events may be registered at HM Consuls and High Commissions and by HM Forces registering officers abroad, and copies of these registrations are deposited with my Office. Such registration is not compulsory, nor does the facility exist in every country, but the number of returns of deaths registered for the years 1997 to 2005 were as follows:
| Registrations |
1997 | 495 |
1998 | 571 |
1999 | 475 |
2000 | 449 |
2001 | 457 |
2002 | 386 |
2003 | 518 |
2004 | 535 |
2005 | 503 |
Total | 4,389 |
