PCS: Up to 200 land registry staff to lobby Palriament over cuts

Tuesday, 19 January 2010 12:00 AM

Up to 200 Land Registry workers are expected in Parliament tomorrow (20 Jan) to lobby MPs over plans to close five offices and outsource work which will result in an estimated 1,400 staff either losing their job or being privatised.

The lobby organised by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) will be followed by the launch of the union's 'Alternative Vision for the Land Registry' which calls for the creation of a 21st century Domesday Book.

The alternative vision, written by Roger Seifert, professor of Industrial Relations at Wolverhampton Business School and professor Mike Ironside, found that over a third of land in England and Wales is not registered.

The union is urging the Land Registry to concentrate its resources on completing the register of all land and property, rather than cutting 1,100 jobs, closing offices and privatising up to 300 jobs under its accelerated transformation programme.

PCS members will be lobbying their MP from 12.30 tomorrow which will be followed by the launch of the union's 'Alternative Vision for the Land Registry' at 2pm in committee room 10 of the House of Commons.

Speakers at the launch, chaired by Cheryl Gedling, PCS national executive include, Chris Baugh PCS assistant general secretary, John McDonnell MP chair of the PCS Parliamentary Group, professor Roger Seifert co-author of the 'Alternative Vision for the Land Registry' and reps from the Land Registry.

You can view the 'Alternative Vision for the Land Registry' on the PCS website.

Commenting, Chris Baugh, PCS assistant general secretary, said: "It is staggering that over a third of land and property in England and Wales isn't registered. What is needed is a Domesday book for the 21st century to ensure confidence and security in land ownership. Cutting staff and closing offices will undermine this confidence and result in a poorer service that will hamper the Land Registry's ability to respond to a recovery in the housing market. 1,700 jobs have already been lost over the last two years and plans for more cuts and privatisation will see the loss of yet more skilled and experienced staff. Completing the land register should be the priority not knee jerk cuts that could end up costing the taxpayer more in the long term."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For further information, interviews and comment please contact Alex Flynn PCS national press officer on 020 7801 2747 or 07833 978216.

PCS, the Public and Commercial Services Union is the union representing civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies. It also represents workers in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK's sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich.

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