§ 27. Mr. KELLYasked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the fact that the £448,000 constituting the Land Registry Insurance Fund, out of which £348,000 is proposed to be taken by the Treasury under the Land Registration Bill, has been built up to a large extent by enforced sacrifices made by the staff, he will take steps to ensure that adequate work and salary standards are maintained in this Department before annual surpluses of income over expenditure are made over to the Treasury?
§ Commander SOUTHBY (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply. The amount of the salaries of the staff of the Land Registry is not determined by the amount of the revenue from fees but by a consideration of what is the proper remuneration for the work which the various members of the staff respectively perform, having regard to the standards generally ruling in the Government service. The fees are fixed so as to produce enough revenue to cover both the salaries and other expenses of the 292 Land Registry, and a contribution to the Insurance Fund. My hon. and learned Friend does not accept the allegation of fact contained in the hon. Member's question that the Land Registry Insurance Fund has been built up by sacrifices made by the staff, either enforced or otherwise.
§ Mr. KELLYWill the hon. and gallant. Member convey to the Attorney-General the fact that these people are still making sacrifices and deserve better remuneration?
§ Commander SOUTHBYI would call the attention of the hon. Member to the last part of the reply, but I will convey what he has said to my hon. and learned Friend.