Land Registry has issued a press release this morning stating that from today the Land Registry will no longer be the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice and Ken Clarke but will now form part of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills under Vince Cable.
Malcolm Dawson, Chief Land Registrar and Chief Executive said:
"We are pleased to be joining the BIS family along with the Met Office and Ordnance Survey. I believe this transfer will strengthen existing partnerships as well as opening up new and exciting opportunities for collaboration."
This marks a significant step towards the establishment of a Public Data Corporation (PDC), plans for which were announced by the Government in January this year. Final decisions on membership, structure and commercial strategy of the PDC will be taken later this year, following a consultation on PDC data policy, due to launch over the summer.
As a further step towards establishing a PDC, Ministers have decided to establish a Public Data Corporation Transition Board. This will consider membership, structure and governance for the PDC but will not replace Land Registry’s Board or the existing Boards within the other organisations involved.
Malcolm Dawson added:
"This transfer of responsibility has no impact on the status and operation of Land Registry. Customers and stakeholders can be assured that we will continue to deliver the high level of customer service to which we are committed."
