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| Birth certificates to name father | Birth certificates to name father |
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| The government is planning to make the registration of fathers' names on birth certificates compulsory. | The government is planning to make the registration of fathers' names on birth certificates compulsory. |
| Ministers said they would push forward with the plans once safeguards to protect vulnerable women and children could be put in place. | Ministers said they would push forward with the plans once safeguards to protect vulnerable women and children could be put in place. |
| The Institute of Public Policy Research said the move would send an important signal about fathers' roles and duties. | |
| Currently a birth has to be registered within 42 days, but only one parent is required to do so. | |
| The Department for Work and Pensions said proposals on joint birth registration in England, Wales and Northern Ireland would be bought forward after a full consultation. | The Department for Work and Pensions said proposals on joint birth registration in England, Wales and Northern Ireland would be bought forward after a full consultation. |
| Most people will be thanking their fathers tomorrow but many will be wondering who their father is Kate StanleyIPPR | Most people will be thanking their fathers tomorrow but many will be wondering who their father is Kate StanleyIPPR |
| Some people had been expecting the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton, to include the measure in the Child Maintenance Bill. | Some people had been expecting the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton, to include the measure in the Child Maintenance Bill. |
| But it is thought that a rethink was prompted by concerns about women who had been subjected to violence from a partner, and rape victims. | But it is thought that a rethink was prompted by concerns about women who had been subjected to violence from a partner, and rape victims. |
| However, a Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said it was never intended that the proposal would be in the Bill, as birth registration was not in the department's remit. | However, a Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said it was never intended that the proposal would be in the Bill, as birth registration was not in the department's remit. |
| The government was still committed to the idea, she said. | The government was still committed to the idea, she said. |
| 'Equal role' | 'Equal role' |
| If the parents are not married, the father has to be registered on the birth certificate in order to gain parental responsibility. | If the parents are not married, the father has to be registered on the birth certificate in order to gain parental responsibility. |
| If no father is registered he will be listed as unknown. | If no father is registered he will be listed as unknown. |
| The IPPR said fathers had a vital role to play in the life of their children and were more likely to be actively involved if they were there from the outset. | The IPPR said fathers had a vital role to play in the life of their children and were more likely to be actively involved if they were there from the outset. |
| It also said that unless fathers were registered, they could not be traced and encouraged to make child maintenance payments. | It also said that unless fathers were registered, they could not be traced and encouraged to make child maintenance payments. |
| Mr Hutton is said to support these arguments. | Mr Hutton is said to support these arguments. |
| 'Important signal' | 'Important signal' |
| The institute's head of social policy, Kate Stanley, said: "Everyone should know who to send a card to on Father's Day. | The institute's head of social policy, Kate Stanley, said: "Everyone should know who to send a card to on Father's Day. |
| "Most people will be thanking their fathers tomorrow but many will be wondering who their father is and why they have not helped support their family. | "Most people will be thanking their fathers tomorrow but many will be wondering who their father is and why they have not helped support their family. |
| "Requiring fathers to be registered on a birth certificate sends an important signal about the duties of parenthood. | "Requiring fathers to be registered on a birth certificate sends an important signal about the duties of parenthood. |
| "It communicates the message that fathers have an equal role to mothers and that they must take their responsibilities seriously." | "It communicates the message that fathers have an equal role to mothers and that they must take their responsibilities seriously." |