HC Deb 11 November 1998 vol 319 c187W
Mr. Bill O'Brien

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 14 November 1997, Official Report, columns 683-84, concerning the Quinquennial Review of Government Property Lawyers, if he is able to report on the outcome of that review. [59646]

The Attorney-General

I am able to report that, following an evaluation of Government Property Lawyers and a further Prior Options Study, I have concluded that against the background of a declining work load the business of the GPL Agency has become non-viable and is likely to remain so and there is no longer a requirement to maintain a central conveyancing function in the public sector. Accordingly, the Government Property Lawyers Agency will close by 30 September 1999. 1 recognise that this announcement will come as a disappointment to the staff of the GPL. I should like, however, to pay tribute to their hard work and their commitment to the agency over the years.