§ Mr. COMPTONasked the Attorney-General what was the volume of each category of dealings with registered land in the Land Registry in January to May of last year and of this year, respectively, that was settled by each grade higher than that to which the work is classified as appropriate; and whether he will take steps to ensure that work of this nature deemed to be appropriate to particular grades in the department will normally be allocated to those grades?
The ATTORNEY-GENERALThe work going into the Land Registry is allocated to different grades according to the difficulty of each case and the capacity of the grade to deal with it, so far as this is possible with a fluctuating quantity of work in a constantly expanding office. Naturally, this operation cannot be conducted without modification to meet fluctuation of business, and it would be misleading, therefore, to attempt to set out a rigid classification.
§ Mr. COMPTONasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that non-Civil Service staffs are employed at piecework rates upon certain registration work by the Land Registry; that this arrangement involves sending official documents to the private offices of the persons so engaged; and whether he will take steps to stop this arrangement, which is undesirable and contrary to Civil Service practice?
The ATTORNEY-GENERALI presume that the hon. Member refers to the fact that in certain cases matters connected with the examination of title are sent to barristers in Lincoln's Inn to advise the Chief Land Registrar as to their fitness for absolute or good leasehold title. The remuneration for this work is on a fee basis, in accordance with the custom of the Bar. I am not aware that this arrangement is either undesirable or contrary to Civil Service practice. Moreover, it is in accord with the Land Registration Rules, 1925 (Rules 26 and 303).