§ Mr. Weetchasked the Attorney-General what is the extent of compulsory land registration in the county of Suffolk; how many registered titles there are in that county; and what proportion these bear to the total number of titles in 1976 and 1981.
The Solicitor-GeneralRegistration of title is compulsory on sale in the county of Suffolk only in the borough of Ipswich. There are approximately 45,700 registered titles in that county. This is about 73 per cent. more than the total number registered at the 31 March 1976 and about 8 per cent. more than the number registered at the 31 March 1981.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Attorney-General how many errors requiring amendment of a land charge or certificate were made by the Land Registry in each year since 1976.
The Solicitor-GeneralNo exact figures are available. It is estimated that in each year since 1976 the error rate for mistakes made by the Land Registry requiring amendment of a land or charge certificate expressed as a percentage of the total number of completed transactions is as follows:
347W
per cent. 1976–77 0.95 1977–78 0.84 1978–79 0.99
per cent. 1979–80 1.11 1980–81 1.32 *1981–82 0.95 * First six months.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Attorney-General whether he proposes to introduce legislation this Session to enable the register of title at Her Majesty's Land Registry to be computerised.
The Solicitor-GeneralProvision to that effect is contained in clause 59 of the Administration of Justice Bill now before another place.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Attorney-General what is the current membership of the joint committee of the Law Society and Her Majesty's Land Registry; how many times the committee met in 1981; and what practical improvements it made in relation to conveyancing of residential property.
The Solicitor-GeneralThe joint advisory committee of the Law Society and Her Majesty's Land Registry has no statutory constitution. It is chaired by the Chief Land Registrar and the Land Registry is represented by such senior officials as are appropriate, depending on the subjects for discussion. The Law Society is currently represented by six practising solicitors. There are joint secretaries. A sub-committee has been appointed to discuss the implications of the development of computerisation.
The full committee and the sub-committee each met once in 1981 but informal discussions took place throughout the year. The committee is only a consultative body and does not of itself make improvements. The main areas of consultation during the year have related to the computer development and to the revision of the Land Registration Fee Order. More recently, discussions have been taking place regarding the introduction of a new form of application for the registration of dealings. This is to be tried out on a experimental basis in certain areas with the co-operation of local firms of solicitors.