§ Dr. StoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to adopt a policy of differential charges for providing answers to conveyancing search inquiries; what further steps he will take; and if he will make a statement; [58271]
(2) how many local authorities have digitised their local land charges and associated records and obtained the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement; [58269]
(3) how many local authorities have applied to his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and obtaining the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement; [58281]
(4) what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to digitise their land records and obtain the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement; [58268]
(5) how many applications by local authorities have been approved by his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and obtaining the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and what the total value is of the approvals granted; [58283]
(6) what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to apply to his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and obtaining the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement; [58284]
(7) what the total value is of the applications which have been made by local authorities to his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and
152Wobtaining the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement; [58282]
(8) how many local authorities at 1 April were at level (a) 3 and (b)2 in their development of links with the National Land Information Service; and how many local authorities he expects by December to be at level (i) 3 and (ii) 2 in their development of links with the National Land Information Service. [58270]
§ Mr. RaynsfordI have been asked to reply.
The National Land Information Services (NLIS) is a project, which has been developed and is run by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) for local government.
NLIS is an important part of the Government's policy to improve the home buying process. In particular it has the potential of significantly improving the turnaround times for conveyancing searches. We have written to local authorities drawing the benefits of both NLIS and the associated National Land and Property Gazetteer project to their attention. I have placed a copy of that letter in the House Library.
From information provided to us by the IDeA as at 28 May 2002, we understand for local authorities in England that: 117 of the 388 authorities are electronically connected to NLIS with 81 authorities connected at Level 2, and 36 at Level 3.
From information provided to us by the IDeA as at 28 May 2002, we understand for local authorities in England and Wales that: there are 132 local land and property gazetteers (LLPGs) produced by local authorities which are linked to the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG); with a further 117 gazetteers in prospect to be linked to the NLPG in the near future; and a further 33 local authorities known to be developing LLPGs.
There is no direct funding available from Government for local authorities to participate with NLIS. The Government are providing £155 million over the next
153Wtwo years to local authorities and to partnerships of local authorities targeted towards helping authorities electronically enabling all their services.
Fees for searches of the local land charges register are fixed by statutory instrument in accordance with the Local Land Charges Act 1975. Otherwise, it is for local authorities themselves to set income targets and fees for dealing with conveyancers' inquiries. However they must do so taking account of the cost of providing the service.