FFHS-NEWS Survey on GRO website

[News from the Federation of Family History Societies]

Survey on GRO website

With effect from 1 April this year the General Register Office (GRO) ceased
to be part of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and became part of
the Identity and Passport Service (IPS).  There are now plans to integrate
the GRO website into the DirectGov website which acts as a portal for many
different Government websites - see www.direct.gov.uk.  The FFHS was invited
to give its thoughts on this, which it did at the beginning of May, and now
a survey has been launched for members of the general public to have their
say.  The survey can be accessed from the GRO website home page at
www.gro.gov.uk.

Concerns have been expressed over the possibility of the GRO website being
lost among many other websites and so much more difficult to find.  Perhaps
the point should be made that entry via DirectGov should be an additional
option rather than the only one.  If you have strong views on the service
provided by the GRO, here is an opportunity to air your views in a
constructive manner.

The survey embraces not only the role of the GRO but also passport
applications and plans for identity cards.  It appears from a quick study of
the survey that it is possible to skip those parts which you do not wish to
respond to.

The survey will close on 14 June.

Roger Lewry
FFHS Archives Liaison Officer
exec.member.rl at ffhs.org.uk
www.ffhs.org.uk