Compared with the previous year, the number of study visits arranged and delivered has more than doubled. This has been an exciting and welcome development. It represents increased opportunities for the lively mutual exchange of experience and expertise and for the further contacts made and relationships established as a result. We aim to make such visits as helpful and informative as possible by establishing in advance what our visitors’ specific objectives are, and preparing a programme of presentations, discussions and practical exercises tailored accordingly. As ever, these events have benefited greatly from the willingness of colleagues in local offices and within Head Office to help with their organisation and presentation. We are grateful also to the Valuation Office Agency, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and PAi Consulting, with whom we have cooperated successfully on a number of visits during the year. Our programme of study visits in 2006/7 brought us into contact with one or more delegations from 20 different countries. Bulgaria
The development of electronic services and e-conveyancing were the focus of the day for senior officials from the Ministry of Justice and Registry Agency in January. A three-day study visit from Bulgarian deputy ministers and officials from the Cadastre Agency and Registry Agency, as part of the study programme for the World Bank Property and Registration Project in Bulgaria, was hosted in February. A day at Tunbridge Wells Office formed part of the itinerary. China
A number of larger delegations have visited us for meetings in which the focus has variously been on Land Registry services, land use and resources and our environmental practices and policies. Coventry Office hosted a visit arranged through the Chartered Institute of Housing, and we have recently provided input to programmes organised by Sino-Bridge International Ltd, a company specialising in arranging study visits for governmental and commercial delegates from China. Croatia
The Assistant to the Director of the State Geodetic Administration visited us in July for an overview of land registration services. Ghana
An MBA student working at the Ghana Land Registry visited Stevenage Office in March to gain an insight into land registration in England and Wales. Hong Kong
In September we welcomed a delegation from Hong Kong, including a Senior Land Surveyor of the Hong Kong SAR Government, to discuss land registration issues generally and mapping services and boundary issues in particular. Indonesia
A delegation from the National Land Agency and National Mapping Agency visited us for one day in June for an overview of land registration in England and Wales. Jamaica
In June and July we welcomed the Chief Executive Officer and other senior officials from the National Land Agency who were particularly interested in hearing about our electronic services and e-conveyancing programme. Macedonia
In November a delegation from the State Agency for Geodetic Works visited Harrow Office as part of a five-day study tour organised in cooperation with Registers of Scotland. Mongolia
Senior officials from the Administration of Land Affairs, Geodesy & Cartography and the Ministry of Construction & Urban Development visited us in October for an overview of land registration services and recent developments. Nigeria
Throughout the year we have again hosted various visitors from Nigeria as part of our ongoing project work in that country. In September we met the Deputy Registrar of Titles, Lagos, and in December we welcomed a delegation of senior officials from the Ministry of Lands Housing & Survey (Oyo State) for a four-day programme of meetings and presentations that included visits to Harrow Office and to the Valuation Office Agency. We have also worked again with PAi Consulting by contributing to a programme of study for officials from the Ministerial Reform Steering Committee and other reforming bodies, providing input on UK public sector reform, Land Registry strategy and human resource policy. Papua New Guinea
The register and the legislation framework that supports land registration in England and Wales was the topic for the briefing provided for the Minister of Justice and officials from Papua New Guinea in February. Poland
In February we hosted a three-day visit for a delegation from the Head Office of Geodesy & Cartography, which included a day at Croydon Office and input from colleagues in the Project and Programme Centre, Plymouth. Russia
A visit in August by two senior officials from the Federal Agency for Cadastre of Immovable Property and the Federal Centre for Project Finance gave us an opportunity to showcase customer service initiatives and other recent developments in our services. In March we delivered a presentation to a delegation from the Supreme Arbitration Court about protecting property rights on the register. Saudi Arabia
E-conveyancing and mapping services were the focus of a visit by officials from Saudi Arabia. The group included consultants and a representative of Ordnance Survey. Scotland
In February we were pleased to welcome the Managing Director and other senior officials of Registers of Scotland to Durham (Southfield) Office for an insight into local office registration procedures and management structures. Sierra Leone
In November we met with a government archivist to discuss document management issues. Singapore
In October we received a delegation of senior officials from the Singapore Land Authority and the Central Provident Fund Board for a two-day study visit to Head Office and to Croydon Office to look at a number of aspects of our services, in particular the electronic discharge of charges. South Korea
A delegation of court officials were given an overview of land registration and e-conveyancing during their visit to us in November. In February we delivered a presentation on land registration in England and Wales to three officials from Konkuk University, Seoul, at the offices of the Valuation Office Agency. Thailand
We presented an introduction to land registration to officials from the Thai Bureau of Property Valuation, Royal Thai Mint and RICS at the offices of the Valuation Office Agency in November. Tunisia
In February we provided a briefing for senior Tunisian officials at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. The briefing topic was How Land Registry operates as an Executive Agency and how it delivers services to the wider population. Other activities
In addition to the visits outlined above, we have arranged meetings at Head Office for senior officials from Registers of Scotland, the Bundesnotarkammer (Federal Chamber of Notaries, Germany), Teranet (Canada), Harvard Law School (USA), Land Registers Northern Ireland and others. |
