Land Registry sell-off back on agenda


To union anger, the Conservative government has announced it is to “consult on options to move operations of the Land Registry to the private sector from 2017”.


In July last year, the government revealed that nine in 10 respondents to its consultation said they didn’t agree a sell-off would make the agency more efficient and they wouldn’t be comfortable with non-civil servants doing the work. It conceded: “Overall, across virtually all respondents, it was suggested that a case for change had not been made.”


A PCS civil service union campaign also helped thwart attempts to the sell-off.


However, privatisation is now back on the government’s agenda. Buried deep within chancellor George Osborne's spending review and autumn statement document is the line “consult on options to move operations of the Land Registry to the private sector from 2017".


PCS has yet to receive any details on the privatisation plans, but will be insisting on an input with a view to again defeating the notion of any sell-off.


The union is also seeking a meeting with Anna Soubry, minister of state for small business, industry and enterprise, to clarify that assurances over jobs and offices provided by Land Registry chief executive Graham Farrant hold true.


The Land Registry holds more than 24 million land or property titles — the evidence of ownership — in England and Wales.


www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/pcs_comment/pcs_comment.cfm/government-to-try-again-to-sell-off-land-registry