§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has concerning the level of fees charged by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland Agency; and what percentage increases there have been in the past 12 months.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonFees charged by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland are mainly specifically listed in SI 1991 No. 2093 and these have not changed since coming into force on 16 October 1991, and where they are not so listed the keeper is required to charge fees on a full cost recovery basis.
§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy for ensuring competition in the supply of land registry reports to solicitors as between those supplied by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland Agency and members of the Society of Scottish Searchers.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIn principle, the policy is to encourage competition from the private sector. The Scottish Office Home and Health Department is chairing a working group involving a wider spectrum of those interested in extending access to the databases held by the keeper.
§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has concerning the level of charges made by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland Agency to members of the Society of Scottish Searchers for a form 12 or 13 report; whether the same charges are being made by the keeper to his report section for similar reports supplied to solicitors; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe fees for charges in the Registers of Scotland Agency are set out in SI 1991 No. 2093 and this provides for a fee of £16.50 for each form 12 and a fee of £10 for each form 13 irrespective of whether supplied to a member of the Society of Scottish Searchers or to a solicitor.