§ Mr. RAFFANasked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the experi- 98W ence gained in connection with the Land Registry for the county of London, he will consider the desirability of extending a similar scheme to the whole country?
§ Sir G. HEWARTThe Government have kept the Land Registry for the county of London under observation for many years, and in view of its great practical success they are, I understand, persuaded of the desirability of extending compulsory registration of title to the whole of England and Wales at the earliest possible moment. They are now prepared, if called on by county councils, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by the existing Land Transfer Acts, and subject to necessary administrative arrangements, to make orders establishing compulsory registration of title in any county or number of counties applying for it; and the Lord Chancellor's Real Property Bill contains provisions for accelerating such extension by dispensing with the necessity of applications by county councils and substituting a more systematic mode of procedure.