HC Deb 09 May 1973 vol 856 cc128-30W
Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Attorney-General if he will seek to ascertain and publish the names of the members of the Law Commission who produced Working Paper No. 49—"Transfer of Land, Rent-charges", and indicate which of these members also helped to produce Working Paper No. 74 (1969).

The Attorney-General

The Law Commission's working papers are the collective responsibility of all the commissioners.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Attorney-General if he will list separately the individuals and organisations which were approached by the law Commission in preparing Working Paper No. 49, "Transfer of Land, Rentcharges", and those who approached the Law Commission.

The Attorney-General

Working Paper No. 49 was prepared by the Law Commission in the light of the comments received in consultation on the earlier paper —No. 24. In addition, the commission has consulted the Government Actuary and has been in touch with the Department of the Environment and with practising solicitors in Manchester and Newcastle on points of detail.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Attorney-General if he will list the organisations and individuals to whom the Law Commission has sent copies of Working Paper No. 49, "Transfer of Land, Rent-charges".

The Attorney-General

The Law Commission has distributed copies of Working Paper No. 49 to 124 individuals and organisations in the United Kingdom— including all who tendered comments on the earlier Working Paper No. 24—as well as to some outside the United Kingdom. Some organisations have been sent a number of copies for further distribution. Copies were sent to the following in the United Kingdom:

  • Members of both Houses of Parliament (16).
  • Judiciary (2).
  • Government Departments and other public bodies (29).
  • Local authority associations (6).
  • Town Clerk of Manchester.
  • Town Clerk of Bristol.
  • British Legal Association.
  • General Council of the Bar.
  • The Law Society.
  • Other professional legal bodies and associations (8).
  • Individual legal practitioners (16).
  • Society of Public Teachers of Law.
  • Individual academic lawyers (5).
  • Building Societies Association.
  • Trades Union Congress.
  • Chartered Land Societies' Committee.
  • National Association of Property Owners.
  • National Citizens' Advice Bureaux Council.
  • Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers.
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  • Association of Local Authority Valuers and Estate Surveyors.
  • Private individuals, and companies (4).
  • Legal libraries (7).
  • Non-legal libraries (5).
  • Legal Press (12).
  • Non-legal Press (1).

Mr. Marks

asked the Attorney-General if he will give publicity to the Law Commission's Working Paper No. 49, "Transfer of Land, Rentcharges", in order that the people affected will have an opportunity to make representations.

The Attorney-General

I would refer the hon. Member to the list set out in my reply of today to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Mr. Michael Cocks). I expect that most people who can assist the Law Commission in formulating final conclusions on the subject of rentcharges are now aware of the existence of Working Paper No. 49, which is available for purchase from HMSO outlets. I will, however, ask the Law Commission to give a wider distribution to the non-legal Press.