§ Mr. Weetchasked the Attorney-General whether any steps are being taken by his Department to improve the methods and lower the costs of conveyancing in respect of residential property.
The Solicitor-GeneralAs and when resources permit, it is intended to extend the compulsory registration of title. The provisions of the Housing Act 1980, extending the right to purchase the freehold of rented property, also have the effect of extending compulsory registration by requiring the title to properties bought pursuant to these provisions to be registered even if situated outside the compulsory areas. Within the Land Registry it is intended that registered conveyancing will be facilitated by increased computerisation.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Attorney-General what progress has been made towards computerising conveyancing methods as described in the report of the Royal Commission on legal services.
The Solicitor-GeneralClause 27 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is designed to facilitate computerisation of local land charges registers and it is hoped during the current Session to introduce analogous legislation enabling the register of title at Her Majesty's Land Registry to be computerised. Practical trials have proceeded encouragingly at the Plymouth district registry, where the experimental work has been greatly assisted by the installation of additional computer equipment. The land charges department has continued to operate the computerised system which was successfully introduced in 1974.