Government Sell-Offs - Coming Your Way

Government Sell-Offs  Coming Your Way EXPRESS http://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/657770/Land-sell-off-property-UK-Land-Registry-privatisation-petition-public-ownership extracts Land sell-off is a disgrace, says Neil Clark IT is the public body that anyone who has bought property in England and Wales will have had dealings with. By Neil Clark PUBLISHED: 08:57, Sun, Apr 3, 2016 | UPDATED: 09:25, Sun, Apr 3, 2016 The Land Registry was established in 1862 and has been serving us quietly and efficiently for more than 150 years. Now though, a dark cloud hangs over the body that registers land ownership and maintains the documentation of almost 24 million titles. Just before Easter, Business Secretary Sajid Javid announced plans to privatise the Land Registry. “The preferred model is a contract between government and a private operator, with all the core functions transferred out of the public sector,” said the statement. ... None of the old arguments in favour of state sell-offs made by the Thatcherites in the 1980s apply. The Land Registry is no loss-making drain on the public purse. Last year it paid the ­Exchequer more than £100million in dividends and has made a profit for the taxpayer in 19 of the past 20 years. It has done this while reducing its fees to the public. ... If it were privatised the Land Registry would not be subject to the Freedom of Information Act and it would be easier to conceal who owns land. The Government claims privatising it would allow it to become “even more efficient and effective” but it is hard to see how the Land Registry could improve. Every time I’ve had to contact it the staff have been very helpful and polite, and this is the experience of others I have talked to. ... It’s one thing to privatise state-owned industries, it’s quite another to transfer to the private sector monopoly registration bodies which have been in public ownership since the days of Queen Victoria. This is a privatisation that I’m sure even Mrs Thatcher would oppose. ... We have until May 26 to respond to the Government’s consultation on its proposals. You can send your views to lr.consultation@ukgi.gov.uk or write to Lizzie Dixon, 1 Victoria Street, London, W1H 0ET. http://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/657770/Land-sell-off-property-UK-Land-Registry-privatisation-petition-public-ownership ---------------------- ---------------------- COMMENT Unbelievable. People should not have to petition to keep public property / services under public control.