§ 3. Mr. Hamlingasked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he will now seek powers to compile a regis- 1182 try of land holdings in England and Wales.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources (Mr. Arthur Skeffington)No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that the advantage to be gained would outweigh the high cost of establishing and maintaining such a new register. However, as my hon. Friend knows, he has been considering what improvements can be made in getting more accurate and up-to-date information on land use available on a uniform basis. A grant has been made to Kings College, London University to finance the completion this year of the field work on the Second Land Utilisation Survey.
§ Mr. HamlingIs my hon. Friend aware that if we had a land registry of the kind I suggest we would know a good deal more about the ownership of land, and it would help us in determining our future policy on the use and allocation of land?
§ Mr. SkeffingtonThere is no question but that were this information available it would be of very great use. The Land Commission will build up a fairly considerable pattern of knowledge as its work advances, and my hon. Friend will not lose sight of the plans of the Lord Chancellor for the extension of the compulsory registration of title.
§ Sir R. CaryWould there be any point in compiling a register such as that indicated in the Question? Land is so deeply embedded in the law of entail and so often used as collateral. Could enough precise information be derived from a register such as this?
§ Mr. SkeffingtonI would hesitate to apply the exact parallel of what goes on in other countries. An up-to-date register of land holdings of all kinds—which is what my hon. Friend has in mind—would be of tremendous advantage in forward planning, but as we have not got that we are moving along the line that I have suggested, and a good deal of information will be available.