HC Deb 24 April 1950 vol 474 cc58-9W
97. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Attorney-General if the state of the work in His Majesty's Land Registry makes it possible to implement the recommendations of the Land Transfer Committee of 1943 by extending the system of compulsory registration of title to land.

The Attorney-General

His Majesty's Land Registry is now up to date with its work, but the lack of trained staff prevents a return to the speed which characterised the Department before the war. I am sorry to say that the manpower situation precludes for the present the recruitment of the additional staff which would be required, either fully to restore the pre-war position, or to enable the compulsory areas to be further extended.

98. Brigadier Medlicott

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that the Yorkshire Deeds Registries do not now appear to serve any useful conveyancing purpose to property owners; and if he will introduce legislation for these registries to be abolished.

The Attorney-General

I agree that the present system of registration of deeds applying to land in Yorkshire is not as satisfactory as the registration of title system which applies in London, Middlesex and elsewhere and this was the conclusion reached by the Tomlin Committee in 1930. But the extension of the system of registration of title to Yorkshire in substitution for the Deeds Registries presents a number of difficulties, not the least being the provision of suitable staff and I cannot hold out any hope of such a change in the immediate future.