Written question asked by Caroline Spelman (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 October 2006. It was answered by Phil Woolas (Labour) on Friday, 20 October 2006 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Land Use

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will (a) introduce a date by which all local authorities should be fully National Land Information Service-enabled and (b) ensure such a requirement follows the New Burdens principle.

Answer: There is no intention to introduce a date by which all local authorities should be fully National Land Information Service (NLIS) enabled, although progress is being monitored in line with the planned introduction of Home Information Packs on 1 June 2007. It should be noted that all local authorities in England and Wales can now process searches submitted through the NLIS network and 97 per cent. of them receive and return searches electronically. There are no new burden implications.

Secondary information