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Meeting of the Parliament 14 March 2012

14 Mar 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Land Registration etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

McMillan, Stuart SNP West Scotland Watch on SPTV

As one of the non-lawyers on the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, it was with a sense of trepidation that I started out on my journey through scrutiny of the bill. At the informal briefing session that we had before our scrutiny began, the bill was described as largely technical, but when we went through it, a number of issues were highlighted, none of which was merely technical.

We have already heard about section 108, and I warmly welcome the minister’s comments on that in his opening speech. He and other members touched on the issues that are highlighted in the committee’s report. I am sure that the constructive approach that we have seen so far in the committee will continue.

The bill is welcome because it will update the land registration process. I agree with Murdo Fraser’s comments on those who have participated in the bill process, and all who have assisted the committee. I particularly thank Ken Reid, the committee’s adviser, who managed to put some technical terms into layman’s terms for the benefit of the non-lawyers on the committee.

One area of the current system in which deficiencies have been highlighted is the automated registration of title to land system. We were told in both written and oral evidence that that system is clunky, is deemed to be inefficient and difficult to use, and is not well used. Given that the purpose of the bill is to ensure that more of Scotland is on the land register, the technical issue with the ARTL system needs to be resolved.

The committee whole-heartedly supports the proposal to allow e-registration as that should make registration easier and more accessible. However, if the ARTL system is not improved, the policy will face technical difficulties. The sector has already bought into the idea of e-registration despite the fact that there has not been much take-up. To ensure that the buy-in is carried through, the keeper needs to carry out widespread consultation and testing.

As someone who worked in the information technology sector for a time some years ago, I understand that technology and software rapidly become out of date when they leave the factory. As a result, futureproofing any IT system is a tough challenge, irrespective of the sector for which it is designed. It is imperative that systems are designed with input from those who will use them, and that is particularly true in the area that we are discussing today. Furthermore, I am sure that the financial benefits of such a system will help both the sector and the end customer—the individual who is buying or selling a property.

I have focused my contribution on the issue of the ARTL system because of my background in the IT sector, which meant that I could understand it easily, and because of the importance of e-technology to the Scottish economy. The bill represents an opportunity to bring Scottish land registration into the 21st century, and e-technology can play a massive and major part in making that happen successfully.

14:19

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Meeting of the Parliament 14 March 2012

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