Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Official Report 572KB pdf

---

Subordinate Legislation

---

Registers of Scotland (Digital Registration, etc) Regulations 2018 [Draft]

I welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown, and also the team who are with him. They are Chris Kerr, Stephanie Brown and Graham Fisher. Thank you for coming this morning.

The cabinet secretary is here to move a motion on the draft Registers of Scotland (Digital Registration, etc) Regulations 2018. I know that normally he would make a fuller statement at this time, but he was before the committee on 21 November and set out the purposes of the draft regulations. There was an issue about one regulation in the draft—regulation 8, as I recall. In the light of a majority committee decision, the regulations have been redrafted and re-presented in the form that we see today. I think that the only difference between the drafts is that the Government has taken out regulation 8. Perhaps you could confirm that.

That is right.

The motion that is before us relates only to the new draft, but obviously with the date altered and regulation 8 removed. I am happy to allow you to make a statement, although I do not feel that it is necessary that you go into detail, unless you wish to, in the light of those circumstances.

I have a very short statement to make.

Members will be aware—not least from what the convener has said—of the previous discussion, and that the regulations will facilitate the introduction of new digital services, for which I think there was, at the last meeting, substantial support in the committee. Those services will be provided by Registers of Scotland. The regulations will also provide for a presumption in favour of use of digital services, and will remove the existing land registration application form from the Land Register Rules etc (Scotland) Regulations 2014.

For our part, the Scottish Government is committed to the delivery of user-focused collaborative digital public services that are wide ranging and easily accessible, and deliver value for money for the people of Scotland. Registers of Scotland is developing a range of digital services that will provide online land registration in a way that meets the needs of its customers and the wider Scottish economy. The draft regulations are the next step in that digital transformation: the aim is that Registers of Scotland will be a fully digital business by 2020. The regulations provide a framework to support the eventual mandatory use of digital services with a minimum six-month notice period applying, and require consultation of Scottish ministers before such mandatory use can come into effect. That will ensure that Registers of Scotland delivers the most efficient and effective land registration services possible.

The regulations will give effect to detailed proposals that were set out in Registers of Scotland’s consultation, “Digital Transformation: Next Steps”, for changes to the rules to facilitate the introduction of digital registration services, including a fully digital transfer-of-title service. The reaction to the consultation was very positive and respondents expressed strong support for the proposal to streamline and simplify registration services.

It is worth noting that the digital discharge service that was launched last year has already proved to be popular with lawyers and lenders, and has reduced the processing time for dealing with applications for discharges. I hope that the introduction of an online registration process will prove to be equally popular when it comes into effect—subject, of course, to the committee’s approval. Thank you, convener.

Thank you very much. There are no questions from members, so I will move to the formal debate on the motion to approve the affirmative instrument. First, I say to members that they may speak in a debate on the motion following the Cabinet Secretary moving the motion.

Motion moved,

That the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee recommends that the Registers of Scotland (Digital Registration, etc) Regulations 2018 [Draft] be approved.—[Keith Brown]

Motion agreed to.

Thank you. Do members agree to a short report being agreed by the clerks and myself to set out what has been agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you. I suspend the meeting to allow witnesses to come in.

09:37 Meeting suspended.  

09:40 On resuming—