§ Mr. Weetchasked the Attorney-General what, if any, is the consumer representation in the Land Registry department.
The Attorney-GeneralThe interests of the public in matters relating to the Land Registry are represented in the rule committee constituted under section 444 of the Land Registration Act 1925 and the joint advisory committee of the Law Society and the Land Registry, by members of those committees.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Attorney-General if he will consider lay representation on the joint committee of the Land Registry and the Law Society.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Attorney-General if he will consider alterations in Land Registry requirements in order to simplify the process of conveyancing.
18W
The Attorney-GeneralThe suggestions relating to registered conveyancing made in the report of the Royal Commission on legal services—Cmnd. 7648—are under consideration and particular attention will be given to changes in Land Registry requirements which may be necessitated by the introduction of computerisation into the work of the registration of title department. Consideration will also be given to any proposals for simplification of the relevant law and procedures which may be made by the Law Commission in its forthcoming report on land registration.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the current financial surplus of the Land Registry, he will lower registration fees for (a) the first registration and (b) subsequent registrations of residential property.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Attorney-General what financial surpluses or deficits have been made by the Land Registry department in the past 10 financial years.
The Attorney-GeneralThe figures to the nearest £1,000 are as follows:
Year Registration of Title Department Land Charges and Agricultural Credits Departments £000s £000s 1969–70 - 857 - 52 1970–71 + 592 - 65 1971–72 + 2,487 - 187 1972–73 + 6,491 - 181 1973–74 + 2,397 - 750 1974–75 - 2,341 - 962 1975–76 - 3,095 + 10 1976–77 - 2,616 + 835 1977–78 + 1,631 + 1,051 1978–79 + 4,763 + 1,160