§ Mr. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider ways and means of simplifying the procedures for house purchase in Scotland.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThere are two stages in the procedure for house buying in Scotland—conclusion of the contract to buy and the conveyance of the property to the purchaser in implement of that contract. There is no evidence that there is any need for a simplication of the first stage as the Scottish system of an exchange of formal letters between solicitors works well. The simplication of the conveyancing stage has been studied by the Reid Committee and the Henry Committee and consideration is being given to the implementaion of their recommendations.
§ Mr. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to eradicate the prevalent practice of gazumping in the sale of houses, whereby purchasers of housing are bidding against themselves and in relation to an unknown figure for purchase.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThere is no evidence that "gazumping"—by which is normally meant the dishonest practice of 165W some sellers of property who agree a price with one purchaser and then use that agreement as a lever to raise the price offered by the purchaser to whom they ultimately sell—is a problem in Scotland.
§ Mr. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a committee of inquiry to examine and report on the practices of solicitors, lawyers and estate agents in the buying and selling of houses, with a view to establishing an acceptable code of practice.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThe practices of solicitors in the buying and selling of houses are among the matters which I expect to be examined by the Royal Commission on Legal Services in Scotland. Discussion are currently proceeding on the basis of the consultative document on "Regulation of Estate Agency" issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Incomes.