The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 13th July 2021:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the black market for counterfeit marriage certificates following the changes to marriage certification.
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con, Home Office): Marriage certificates are secure stock which contain a number of security features that help to prevent and detect counterfeits. Controls are in place to identify and investigate any unusual activity.
This is the same as prior to the introduction of the marriage schedule system, which does not increase the risk of counterfeited certificates in any way.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what measures they plan to implement to combat counterfeit marriage certificates.
Lord Greenhalgh (Con, Home Office): Marriage certificates are secure stock which contain several security features which help to prevent and detect counterfeits.
Controls are in place to identify and investigate any unusual activity.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what avenues for recourse authorised clergy have in response to a counterfeit marriage falsely bearing their name as the officiating minister.
Baroness Williams of Trafford: Authorised clergy would continue to be supported by the General Register Office and their local register office in the event a counterfeit marriage certificate were to falsely bear their name.
Arrangements are in place for a full investigation which would help to determine a falsely claimed officiating minister was not involved in the production of a counterfeit certificate.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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