HC Deb 14 December 1998 vol 322 cc332-4W
Ms Roseanna Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Registers of Scotland are prohibited from providing copies of documents relating to registered interests other than those referred to in the title sheet; if he plans to reform the Land Register so that land certificates disclose information about previous proprietors and the prices paid by them; if the rights of access of members of the public and firms of private searchers to all information contained in the Land Register of Scotland, the Register of Sasines and the Register of Inhibitions and Adjudications are to be maintained; and if he will make a statement. [63117]

Mr. McLeish

Section 6(5) of the Land Register (Scotland) Act 1979 requires the Keeper to issue to any person applying, a copy, authenticated or otherwise, of any Title Sheet or part thereof or of any document referred to in a Title Sheet. There are no plans at present to reform the Land Register so that Land Certificates disclose information about previous proprietors and the prices paid by them.

The existing statutory rights of access to the Land Register, the Register of Sasines and the Register of Inhibitions and Adjudications will continue to be maintained. The ability to exercise these rights will be enhanced by remote electronic access to be provided early in 1999.

Ms Roseanna Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recommendations the Scottish Law Commission has made regarding the abolition of the diligence of inhibitions on the dependence of Court actions; what was the total sum(a) paid by Registers of Scotland in respect of legal expenses of the petitioners and (b) incurred by Registers of Scotland to the Scottish Officer in relation to the action of Judicial Review raised by Millar & Bryce Ltd. and two other firms against Registers of Scotland. [63118]

Mr. McLeish

The Scottish Law Commission recently published its Report on Diligence on the Dependence and Admiralty Arrestments (Scot. Law Com. No. 164). This Report contains the Commission's recommendations for reform of the diligence of inhibition on the dependence of actions.

The total sums paid by Registers of Scotland in relation to the action of Judicial Review raised by Millar & Bryce Ltd. and 2 other firms of private searchers were as follows: (a) an agreed settlement of £25,000 in respect of the judicially awarded expenses of the petitioners and (b) £36,807.21 in respect of Registers of Scotland expenses.

Name Company Current responsibilities
Barrie Allison Balfour and Manson Solicitors Solicitors Office
Lorna Fleming Balfour and Manson Solicitors Solicitors Office
Julia Jamieson Fife Careers Ltd. Education Department—Skills and Life Long Learning
Valerie Mathieson Shepherd and Wedderburn Solicitors Solicitors Office—participating in reciprocal trainee scheme
Douglas Middleton Bank of Scotland Department of Health—Private Finance Unit
Martin Mustard Project Management International PLC Parliament Building Division
Terry Kirchin British Petroleum PLC Personnel Division—Devolution Planning

The Scottish Office is committed to increasing the quality and quantity of it interchange activity, in all its

Ms Roseanna Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the registration counties in Scotland for the purpose of registration of deeds are currently operational; and when the remainder are to become operational. [63119]

Mr. McLeish

There are currently 14 countries operational under the Land Register of Scotland. These are: Renfrew, Dumbarton, Lanark, Glasgow, Clackmannan, West Lothian, Stirling, Fife, Aberdeen, Kincardine, Ayr, Dumfries, Wigtown and Kirkcudbright. The programme for the completion of the extension of the Land Register programme is as follows:

  • 1 April 1999: Perth, Angus, Kinross
  • 1 October 1999: Berwick, East Lothian, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Peebles
  • 1 April 2000: Argyll and Bute
  • 1 April 2001: Midlothian
  • 1 April 2002: Inverness and Nairn
  • 1 April 2003: Banff, Moray, Ross and Cromarty, Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney, Zetland.

Ms Roseanna Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial return is required to be made by the executive agency Registers of Scotland in terms of percentage return on capital, taking account of the average cost of first registration under the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979 and the average income for registration due in respect of each transaction; if the report of the quinquennial review currently being carried out by KPMG Consultants will be made available for consultation with those interests affected by its conclusions; and if he will make a statement. [63120]

Mr. McLeish

In terms of its status as a Trading Fund under the Government Trading Funds Act 1973, the Agency is required to make a 6 per cent. return on capital employed across the range of its activities. This target will be reviewed from time to time.

The final report resulting from the Quinquennial Review of the Registers of Scotland Executive Agency will be made available to interested parties once the Secretary of State has announced the outcome of the review.