§ 1. Brigadier Medlicottasked the Attorney-General if he is aware that the work of the Land Registry and the Land Charges Department is still in arrear; and if he will give any indication as to when these Departments will be in a position to deal with their work at a normal pace.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Hartley Shawcross)I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Viscountess Davidson) on 22nd January, when I explained that there were admittedly some delays due to shortage of staff. What I said then applies to the Land Charges Department as well as to the Land Registry, except that the delay in the former is less serious and may be expected to disappear within a few months
§ 2. Brigadier Medlicottasked the Attorney-General how many men and women are employed in the Land Registry and the Land Charges Department at the present time; and how many were so employed in March, 1939.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe number of men and women at present employed in the Land Registry and the Land Charges Department is 404: the corresponding number in March, 1939, was 1,055.
§ Brigadier MedlicottCan the hon. and learned Gentleman hold out any hope of an early increase in the experienced members of this staff, because these 308 registries do play an essential part in the transfer of property which has a small, but definite, bearing on the housing problem? Delays at the present moment are very considerable.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI appreciate the importance of the matter, and we are doing our utmost to improve it as quickly as may be.
§ Mr. KirkwoodDoes not the Attorney-General think it time that the Government should now reach a definite decision that the time has come to nationalise the land in order that they may get on with the housing?