§ Mr. FELLasked if the books and records of the local land registries will be open to the inspection of the public on payment of fees?
§ Mr. FELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to move the financial resolution authorising the establishment and maintenance, of local land registries to carry out the land clauses of the Finance Bill?
§ Mr. FELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can supply any estimate of the cost of establishing the local land registries and of their annual maintenance 21 under the Finance Bill; and if the cost of maintenance exceeds the estimate of the amount of the Increment Duty on land to be collected through them?
Mr. PIKE PEASEasked what will be the status and emoluments of the higher officials to be appointed to the new local land registries; how many such appointments are contemplated; and when the Supplementary Estimate will be presented?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI will answer these five questions together. My right hon. Friend did not mean to imply in his remarks on the 14th instant that it was proposed under the Finance Bill to create immediately local registries of titles to land, but that one of the results of the measure would be the gradual establishment of a system of local land registration in this country. The questions put by the hon. Members are, therefore, premature. I may, however, explain that at the same time my right hon. Friend stated that local Inland Revenue offices will have to be established in important centres, such as Liverpool, Birmingham, etc., in order that it may not be necessary for all transactions in respect of Increment Duty to be dealt with at Somerset House.
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI think that there must be some little confusion of thought both with regard to the registries, that is to say, the registration of titles to land and the stamping of documents, which requires a local stamping establishment; and the answer I have given has, I hope, cleared up any misapprehension on that point. If not I will answer any further question.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILDoes the right hon. Gentleman say that there will be no registration of the documents that need stamping?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThere will be local offices in which instruments sent to be stamped can be stamped, and there will be a central register for the registration of title in the land.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILCan the right hon. Gentleman say, or shall I put down a question, how many of these local 22 offices are going to be established, and whether he has any estimate at all of the cost?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEPerhaps it will be more convenient to the Noble Lord and to myself if he puts the question down.