Written question asked by Brian Wilson (Labour) on Friday, 18 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 February 2005. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Monday, 28 February 2005 on behalf of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Dept for Constitutional Affairs

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will make a statement on progress with the review of beneficial ownership of land. - Ref to 23 February 2004 418 c217W.

Answer: Mr. Wilson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on progress with the review of beneficial ownership of land. [217446] Mr. Lammy: The report on Land Registry's Quinquennial Review, published in June 2001, recommended that consideration be given to including details of the beneficial or true ownership of land on the land register for England and Wales. In response to a previous question from my right hon. Friend on 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 217W, I announced that the planned consultation between Land Registry, the then Lord Chancellor's Department and other Government departments would be deferred pending a review of the timing of the several consultations to be carried out by Land Registry. Following completion of this review in summer 2004, it was agreed that internal consultation with other interested Government departments should proceed with a view to deciding whether the recommendation warrants being taken forward to a public consultation. This internal consultation is still on-going. No time limit has been set for final decisions to be made although I can confirm that they will be announced to Parliament in due course.

Secondary information