§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has completed the review of the Registers of Scotland executive agency; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangI have reviewed the Registers of Scotland at the end of its first three years as an executive agency and have concluded that agency status should continue. ROS's performance has been evaluated, and the following main conclusions reached:
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Location Region Species Cause of death 1989 Roxburghe Estate Borders Buzzard Mevinphos Carbeth Estate Central Buzzard Chloralose Campsie Fells Central Peregrine Falcon Mevinphos Campsie Fells Central Buzzard Chloralose Langholm Dumfries and Galloway Peregrine Falcon Mevinphos Creochs of Balmaghig Castle Douglas Dumfries and Galloway Buzzard Chloralose Lossiemouth Grampian Buzzard Chloralose New Pitsligo Grampian Buzzard Mevinphos Old Meldrum Grampian Buzzard Chloralose Gordon Bush Est Brora Highland Peregrine Falcon Chloralose Corntown Highland Buzzard Chloralose Dalwhinnie Highland Hen Harrier Shot Lochcarron Highland Eagle Shot Golspie Highland Merlin Shot Drumochter Estate Highland Eagle Chloralose Black Isle Highland Red Kite Chloralose Islay Estate Strathclyde Raven Mevinphos Islay Estate Strathclyde Buzzard Mevinphos Kilbirnie Strathclyde Peregrine Falcon Shot despite some difficulties in 1990–91, ROS has had a successful first three years;
substantial improvements in quality of service to customers have been achieved in line with the principles of the citizens charter; backlogs of work have been largely eliminated;
the extension of the Land Register is now proceeding to an agreed timetable; and
a major information systems strategy is being successfully implemented.
the satisfactory introduction of accrual accounts for the year 1992–93 will allow consideration of ROS moving to trading fund status in the near future.
ROS's framework document has been revised and I have placed a copy in the Libraries of both Houses.
I have set ROS the following key targets for 1994–95:
to reduce turnround times for recording writs on the Sasines register from eight to seven weeks.to reduce turnround times for dealings on the Land Register not attached to a first registration or Transfer of part from 12 to 11.5 weeks.to implement the agreed Land Register extension programme.to contain any increase in unit costs in real terms for each of its main categories of work to 1 per cent.