oh, it's all complicated
basically, we (dh's family) have a title.
when the system changed over to computerised, about 2 weeks before dd2 was registered, the programming (my interpretation here) seems to allow for standard titles (Mr/Miss) to be input, via the drop down menus, and then ignored when it comes to the print out.
All our other children, with handwritten birth certs, have the title written on there, as part of the surname (as is correct). this is no longer allowed with the computerised system. instead, (and much to our surprise) the title was available from the drop down menu. so the data was input, press go, and the certificate was printed, in the format
title silvertadpole middlename middlename surname.
that is what we queried, as the box now reads: Name: title silvertadpole etc etc.
bod went away and checked with superiors (he was keen to do so, as this was the first non-standard entry the office had had since the system wnet live). answer came back "that is what the computer has printed, so it must be right" we asked whether Mr/Miss got printed as well, and apparently it does (have not actually verified this with my own eyes, though).
so we went away thinking how easy that was.
until we applied for dd2's passport.
which came back in the name of title surname.
we queried, and have been told that the passport office can only print the first word in the name box as the first name on a passport.
to make matters worse (in case we are trying to dupe anyone, i suppose!) dd2's passport states, on the extra info bit "the reference to "title" on the name page is the child's name and not a title" 
and there would appear to be nothing we can do about it.