Commentary on Sections Private burial Section 23 –Private burial register
69.Section 23 requires each local authority to prepare and maintain a register of private burials.
70.Subsection (2) provides that regulations may require the register to be kept in a particular form; and specify the information to be recorded, and the time at which it is to be recorded, in a register and make such other provision relating to a register of private burials as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
71.Subsection (3) requires a local authority to make the register of private burials available to the public. Local authorities may make a reasonable charge for doing so. Any charge will be determined by the local authority.
72.Subsection (4) provides that a local authority must provide copies of entries in the register and may make a reasonable charge for doing so. Where a local authority decides to charge for this, it must determine the level of the charge.
73.Subsection (5) requires the local authority to keep the register of private burials indefinitely.
74.Subsection (6) provides that a certified copy extract of the register will be considered to be sufficient for the purposes of evidence in any court proceedings in respect of the information contained in the extract.
75.Subsection (7) makes clear that “specified” where it is used in subsection 23(2) is to be construed as meaning specified in the regulations made under this section.