44. Mr. V. Adamsasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the high percentage charge of conveyancing on transactions where the capital sum involved is small; and whether, to facilitate and cheapen conveyancing, he will introduce local land registries associated with each borough council and enable the transaction of conveyancing to be effected by simple contract?
§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Terence O'Connor)It is true that the costs allowed on dealing with land are heavier per cent. in the lower values and diminish per cent. in the higher values. This is true whether the land is registered or unregistered. It is not, in my opinion, practical that land should be conveyed by simple contract. The choice appears to lie between transfer by conveyance or by registration. The work of introducing compulsory registration on sale is proceeding as fast as is practicable, and notice has been given of the intention to make orders introducing compulsory registration on sale in the county borough of Croydon and the county of Surrey. It would, I think, be impracticable and would probably cause great confusion to introduce universal transfer by registration on the lines suggested.
Mr. AdamsHas my hon. and learned Friend any scheme in mind by which the percentage charge on small conveyancing transactions can be reduced?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe effect of extended registration is to do that already. The more widely it is extended the greater will be the diminution of the charge.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralIt is not an easy matter. The staff has to be highly qualified as the work is very technical, and any general extension will throw a great burden on the local authorities which they would not be prepared to bear.
§ Mr. MacquistenHas my hon. and learned Friend studied the Torrens system which exists in Canada and Australia, and which is worked with great simplicity, very often without any legal assistance?