My Lords, I beg to move the two Motions standing in my name on the Order Paper. Moved, That the draft rules and regulations laid before the House on 5 March and 22 April be approved. 13th and 17th reports from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. Considered in Grand...

My Lords, I beg to move the two Motions standing in my name on the Order Paper. Moved, That the draft rules and regulations laid before the House on 5 March and 22 April be approved. 13th and 17th reports from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. Considered in Grand...

Draft SI on land registration (network access). Draft SI on compensation (claims management services) (amendment). Lords motion to approve. Agreed to on question (formal).

Draft SI on land registration (network access). Draft SI on compensation (claims management services) (amendment). Lords motion to approve. Agreed to on question (formal).

The Land Registry organisation requires fees to be paid, and I do not see why that is a problem. The registry is self-funding and makes no call on public funds to carry out its core business. The fees charged to customers prescribed by an order made by the Lord Chancellor...

The Land Registry organisation requires fees to be paid, and I do not see why that is a problem. The registry is self-funding and makes no call on public funds to carry out its core business. The fees charged to customers prescribed by an order made by the Lord Chancellor...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008. The noble Lord said: These draft rules are an important building block in creating a system of electronic conveyancing in England and Wales, as envisaged by the...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008. The noble Lord said: These draft rules are an important building block in creating a system of electronic conveyancing in England and Wales, as envisaged by the...

The costs of introducing something of this sort will be huge. Is that really a burden to be carried forward by fees to infinity?

The costs of introducing something of this sort will be huge. Is that really a burden to be carried forward by fees to infinity?

I thank the Minister for his explanation of the order, which is quite straightforward. I do, however, have a number of questions to put to him that I hope he will be able to answer. First, we have some concern about security, but I am grateful for the fact that...

I thank the Minister for his explanation of the order, which is quite straightforward. I do, however, have a number of questions to put to him that I hope he will be able to answer. First, we have some concern about security, but I am grateful for the fact that...

I am grateful for those comments and for the general welcome for the rules, although I sense that the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, is rather suspicious of these modern methods. He prayed in aid the collapse of our system earlier this afternoon, which meant that we could not...

I am grateful for those comments and for the general welcome for the rules, although I sense that the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, is rather suspicious of these modern methods. He prayed in aid the collapse of our system earlier this afternoon, which meant that we could not...

The noble Lord, Lord Henley, makes a good point about the electronic registration of existing entries on the register. I think that registration was introduced in 1925; certainly it was operative on a voluntary basis when I was engaged in conveyancing in the 1960s, and it was extended gradually over...

The noble Lord, Lord Henley, makes a good point about the electronic registration of existing entries on the register. I think that registration was introduced in 1925; certainly it was operative on a voluntary basis when I was engaged in conveyancing in the 1960s, and it was extended gradually over...

No. Capital and development costs, which are expected to total between £270 million and £310 million, will be met from the Land Registry’s reserves. However, the operational costs once the network is up and running will be recovered from fee income. I think that that is a very reasonable way...

No. Capital and development costs, which are expected to total between £270 million and £310 million, will be met from the Land Registry’s reserves. However, the operational costs once the network is up and running will be recovered from fee income. I think that that is a very reasonable way...

While the noble Lord was talking, a suspicion grew in my mind that the whole of this exercise may be funded by fees as opposed to general taxation. What is the intention here? Will it be the consumers who bear the cost?

While the noble Lord was talking, a suspicion grew in my mind that the whole of this exercise may be funded by fees as opposed to general taxation. What is the intention here? Will it be the consumers who bear the cost?

Does the noble Lord think that the Land Registry might in due course be able to reduce its fees by providing what he claims will be a more efficient service?

Does the noble Lord think that the Land Registry might in due course be able to reduce its fees by providing what he claims will be a more efficient service?

The noble Lord is not going to tempt me down that route. What I will say is that it is clearly very important that a careful eye is kept on the costs of the Land Registry, for all the reasons that both noble Lords have given. I assure him that...

The noble Lord is not going to tempt me down that route. What I will say is that it is clearly very important that a careful eye is kept on the costs of the Land Registry, for all the reasons that both noble Lords have given. I assure him that...

Draft Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Draft Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I beg to move the seven Motions standing in my name on the Order Paper. Moved, That the draft orders, regulations and rules be referred to a Grand Committee.—(Baroness Ashton of Upholland.) On Question, Motion agreed to.

My Lords, I beg to move the seven Motions standing in my name on the Order Paper. Moved, That the draft orders, regulations and rules be referred to a Grand Committee.—(Baroness Ashton of Upholland.) On Question, Motion agreed to.

Draft SI on parliamentary constituencies (Northern Ireland). Draft SI on mutilations (permitted procedures) (England) (amendment). Draft SI on building societies (financial assistance). Draft SI on Building Societies Act 1986 (accounts audit and EEA state amendments). Draft SI on cash ratio deposits (value bands and ratios). Draft SI on land registration (network access). Draft SI on compensation (claims management services) (amendment). Lords motion that the draft orders, regulations and rules be referred to a Grand Committee. Agreed to on question (formal).

Draft SI on parliamentary constituencies (Northern Ireland). Draft SI on mutilations (permitted procedures) (England) (amendment). Draft SI on building societies (financial assistance). Draft SI on Building Societies Act 1986 (accounts audit and EEA state amendments). Draft SI on cash ratio deposits (value bands and ratios). Draft SI on land registration...

Draft Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008. Motion to approve. Agreed to on question.

Draft Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008. Motion to approve. Agreed to on question.

Draft Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008. Considered by Delegated Legislation Committee. Minutes of proceedings at UP 7 2007-08.

Draft Land Registration (Network Access) Rules 2008. Considered by Delegated Legislation Committee. Minutes of proceedings at UP 7 2007-08.

Draft SI on land registration (network access). (Affirmative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Ministry of Justice. Approved by Parliament. Made 2 July 2008 (SI 2008/1748). Coming into force the day after the rules are made.

Draft SI on land registration (network access). (Affirmative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Ministry of Justice. Approved by Parliament. Made 2 July 2008 (SI 2008/1748). Coming into force the day after the rules are made.