Written question asked by Brian Wilson (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 February 2004. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Monday, 23 February 2004 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 on the Land Registry Quinquennial Review proposals regarding beneficial ownership of land. -Inc ref to 387 c711W.

Answer: Mr. Wilson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on the Land Registry Quinquennial Review proposals regarding beneficial ownership of land. [155084] Mr. Lammy: The report on the 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 question from the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 24 June 2002, Official Report, column 709W, it was announced that the Land Registry and the then Lord Chancellor's Department would jointly consider and consult other Government departments on the recommendation by autumn 2003. Depending on the outcome of that consultation and ministerial agreement consultation with stakeholders and the public on the principles and details would follow. This work has been deferred pending a review of the consultations to be carried out by the Land Registry, including those jointly with the Department for Constitutional Affairs, in the light of the difficulties of multiple simultaneous consultations. I have asked my officials to complete this review and to report to me by summer 2004 with their recommendations as to when the several consultations, including that relating to beneficial or true ownership, should be carried out.

Secondary information