HC Deb 21 May 2002 vol 386 cc286-7W
Mrs. May

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what duties are placed on local authorities with regard to maintaining their land charges register. [57701]

Mr. Wills

The duties of local authorities in relation to the maintenance of their local land charges register are set out in the Local Land Charges Act 1975 and the Local Land Charges Rules 1977 (SI 1977 No. 985).

Mrs. May

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidelines he has issued to local authorities with regard to levels of payment due for public access to local authority land charges registers. [57702]

Mr. Wills

No guidelines have been issued with regard to levels of payment due for public access to local land charges registers.

Mrs. May

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what statutory provision governs access to local authority land charges registers. [57700]

Mr. Wills

Access to the local land charges register is governed by the Local Land Charges Act 1975 and the Local Land Charges Rules 1977 (SI 1977 No. 985).

Mr. Hawkins

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what analysis he has made of local authorities' charges for access to their land records and their opening of their records for public inspection; and if he will make a statement. [58109]

Mr. Wills

None. Charges for access to the register of local land charges are prescribed by the Local Land Charges Rules 1977 (SI 1977 No. 985). These charges were last revised in 1998 (SI 1998 No. 1190). Records open to public inspection and held by local authorities may be inspected free of charge. These records include the planning register and the register of enforcement notices, stop notices and breach of condition notices (Town and Country Planning Act 1990, ss 69 and 188). Other records open to public inspection relating to land include maps of public sewers, publicly adopted highways, and public rights of way (Water Industry Act 1991, ss 199 and 200; Highways Act 1980 s 36(7); and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, s 57(5) respectively). A local authority must behave reasonably in fulfilling its duty to allow access to public records. If reasonable access is denied the matter may be referred to the courts or the local government ombudsman. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 will improve the rights of individuals to have access to information, and provide a right to complain to the Information Commissioner if access is prevented. The Act is expected to come into force in relation to information held by local government on 1 January 2005.