HC Deb 14 November 1962 vol 667 cc360-1
17. Mr. McInnes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Reid Committee on Conveyancing and Registration of Title to Land was appointed; and when it is likely to submit its Report.

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Gilmour Leburn)

The Committee was appointed in September, 1959. My right hon. Friend expects to receive its Report before the end of the year.

Mr. McInnes

Is the Under-Secretary aware that the law on conveyancing and registration in Scotland is out-moded and is causing considerable hardship to those who desire to purchase houses? Has he consulted the Chairman as to when the Report is likely to be submitted?

Mr. Leburn

Yes. I think the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that this, at any rate, is a complex subject, and, as I told him in reply to his Question, my right hon. Friend expects the Report before the end of this year.

Mr. Hoy

But is not the hon. Gentleman aware that, whether these reports are on matters which are complex or otherwise, apparently the rule seems to be that they must not take less than three years? Cannot he take some steps to speed up these reports, which are so important to the people of Scotland?

Mr. Leburn

I take the hon. Gentleman's point, but reports of this kind, involving busy professional people, normally take, I am advised, something like two years. In this particular case, with intricate problems involved, it has taken three.

26. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will investigate the effect of high legal charges on attracting new industry to Scotland; and if he will introduce legislation to ensure that Scottish conveyancing charges are no higher than elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Leburn

Legal charges are such a small element in the cost of setting up a new firm that I do not feel any useful purpose would be served by an investigation. As regards the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend is awaiting the Report of the Reid Committee on Registration of Title to Land in Scotland.

Mr. Thomson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when the President of the Board of Trade visited Scotland in the summer a number of smaller firms seeking grants under the Local Employment Act indicated that the conveyancing charges were an obstacle to them? In the light of that, will he not look a little further at this. especially when the Report of the Reid Committee finally, at long last, reaches him?

Mr. Leburn

Perhaps it would be better if we looked at this after receiving the Report from the Reid Committee.

Mr. Hendry

Declaring an interest in this matter, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he is aware that Scottish solicitors wish they could charge half what English solicitors do?

Mr. Hoy

Does not the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's reply show how important it is to Scotland that it should have this Report very soon, and in view of his answer to this Question, will he now consult the Reid Committee as to when we can expect its Report?

Mr. Leburn

We are really not very far away from the end of the year now—it is a matter of six or seven weeks—and I have already told the hon. Member for Glasgow, Central (Mr. McInnes) that my right hon. Friend expects the Report before the end of the year.