§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Attorney-General if he will list the quality of service performance indicators adopted by each of his and the Lord Chancellor's Departments executive agencies since their establishment and separately identify those quality of service performance indicators already operative prior to agency status.
The Attorney-GeneralThe quality of service indicators operating in the Land Registry, the only executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department (the Law Officers' Departments have none), are:
- (a) speed of processing applications;
- (b) accuracy of the work produced;
- (c) number of complaints received.
Prior to becoming an agency, standards of service existed for the first two aspects but not in respect of the number of complaints received.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Attorney-General if he will list the new forms of alternative working patterns introduced into each of his and the Lord Chancellor's Departments executive agencies since their establishment and provide a break-down by grade of the numbers of staff taking up each new working pattern for each agency.
The Attorney-GeneralThe Land Registry, as the only executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department (the Law Officers' Departments have none) provides a wide range of alternative working patterns which were all introduced before it became an executive agency.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Attorney-General how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of each of his and the Lord Chancellor's Departments executive agencies; and whether the cost was borne by the parent department or the new agency.
The Attorney-GeneralThe cost of events and publicity surrounding the launch of the Land Registry as an executive agency (the only executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department—the Law Officers' Departments have none) in July 1990 was £23,063. This included "open" days which enabled members of the public and others who use the registry's services to visit and see the work of the agency. The whole cost was met by the Land Registry.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Attorney-General how many staff were in post on the date that each of the executive agencies in the Lord Chancellor's and Law Officers' Departments were established; and how many are in post now, in each case.
The Attorney-GeneralThe Land Registry, as the only executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department (the Law Officers' Departments have none), became an executive agency on 2 July 1990, at which time there were 10,698 staff employed. The equivalent figure at 1 February 1992 was 9,637 staff.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Attorney-General what is the maximum salary payable to the chief executive of each of his and the Lord Chancellor's Departments executive agencies, including performance-related element, and the length of time of the chief executive's contract in each case.
The Attorney-GeneralThe current maximum salary payable to the chief executive of the Land Registry, the only executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's324W Department (the Law Officers' Departments have none), including a performance-related element, is £66,100. The contract is for 3¼ years—1 January 1991 to 31 March 1994. It is renewable.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Attorney-General if he will list those new facilities for staff including nurseries and health care schemes which have been introduced in each of his and the Lord Chancellor's Departments executive agencies since their establishment.
The Attorney-GeneralSince becoming an executive agency in July 1990, the Land Registry, as the only executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department (the Law Officers' Departments have none), has established or provided places in eight local holiday play schemes and two local nurseries. This is in addition to six pre-existing holiday play schemes. Six new ventures are currently being evaluated.
Both before and after becoming an agency, the registry has pursued a range of health care measures, such as workplace policies on smoking, cervical cancer screening, and alcohol-related problems; giving publicity to national health campaigns; promoting healthy eating in staff restaurants; and providing awareness counselling and support through a readily accessible welfare service.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Attorney-General what was the first degree obtained by the chief executive of each of his and the Lord Chancellor's Departments executive agencies; and from which university or polytechnic it was awarded.
The Attorney-GeneralThe chief executive of the Land Registry, the only executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department (the Law Officers' Departments have none) has not pursued a course of study which would lead to a university or polytechnic degree.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Attorney-General if he will list each of his and the Lord Chancellor's Departments executive agencies that operates a group bonus scheme and state the cash amount per person awarded in the last year for which figures were available and the conditions attached to its award.
The Attorney-GeneralThe Land Registry, as the only executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department (the Law Officers' Departments have none), does not operate a group bonus scheme.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Attorney-General if he will list the post, grade and maximum salary payable, including performance-related elements, in each case where appointments have been made to his and the Lord Chancellor's Departments executive agencies at grade 7 or above, since their establishment.
The Attorney-GeneralThe following appointments at grade 7 level and above have been made to the Land Registry since becoming an executive agency in July 1990 (the only executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department—the Law Officers' Departments have none):
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Post Grade Number Maximum pay £ Chief Land Registrar (Chief Executive) 2 1 66,100 Solicitor to Land Registry 3 1 57,000 Director of Finance 5 1 47,921
Post Grade Number Maximum Pay £ Land Registrars 5 1 53,740 Deputy Establishment Officer 6 1 42,724 Controller of Operational Development 6 1 42,724 Head of Development Computer Services 6 1 41,120 Area Managers 6 4 41,120 Senior Assistant Land Registrars 6 4 46,122 Office Manager York 7 1 33,175 Head of Personnel Division 1 7 1 34,667 Head of Internal Audit 7 1 34,667 Principal, Legal Practice 7 1 34,667 Management Accountant 7 1 34,667 Finance Officer 7 1 34,667 Deputy Area Managers 7 7 33,175 Computer Services Divisional Managers 7 2 33,175 Assistant Land Registrars 7 19 37,755 Most of the appointments have been occasioned by retirements and the effect of two restructuring exercises, one based on a Treasury staff inspection report and the other on a review by management consultants.
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§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Attorney-General when the last annual report for each of his and the Lord Chancellor's Departments executive agencies were published; and when the next ones are due.
The Attorney-GeneralThe annual report for 1990–91 of the Land Registry, the only executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department (the Law Officers' Departments have none) was published in October 1991. The report for 1991–92 is expected to be available in August of this year.