WIREDGOV

The FDA, the trade union for lawyers and managers in the Land Registry, yesterday responded to the announcement from BIS (the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) of an eight-week consultation around a change in ownership for the Registry.  Currently the Land Registry is a trading fund directly linked to BIS and operates as part of the civil service.  The consultation proposes changing this, with a future Land Registry delivering its services through a government corporation, a joint venture with the private sector or a private sector business.

FDA Assistant General Secretary Naomi Cooke said: “The Land Registry holds the ownership information for 23 million properties in England and Wales and plays a crucial role in settling land disputes.  The FDA is deeply concerned that the rush for change is in danger of over-riding the public’s need for security and confidence in the Land Registry’s work.  We will be engaging with BIS, Land Registry customers and others during this consultation to ensure that no change to the business model that undermines the public’s right to an independent and accurate Land Registry goes ahead.” 

Notes for editors

1. The FDA is the trade union for the UK's senior public servants and professionals. FDA membership includes more than 19,000 senior civil servants, government policy advisors, prosecutors, diplomats, tax professionals, economists, solicitors and other professionals working across Government and the NHS.

2. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants’ union". 

3. The FDA can be found on Twitter @FDA_union and at www.fda.org.uk.

4. The BIS consultation can be found here.

5. The Land Registry confers title to land on individuals and entities through the act of registration. It plays a key role in land disputes and frequently handles highly contentious matters such as adverse possession (squatters’ rights).

6. The FDA’s alternative White Paper - ‘Delivering for the Nation: Securing a World-Class Civil Service – outlining our analysis of the challenges facing the civil service and our recommendations for change, can be read here.

7.  For further information contact:

• Naomi Cooke, FDA Assistant General Secretary, tel: 020 7401 5555 or 07718 110590.
• Kay Hender, Communications Officer, tel: 020 7401 5589 or 07980 700747.