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Privatisation: Another disaster in the making
Flogging off HM Land Registry could be the government’s next Royal Mail-type fiasco, writes MICHAEL KAVANAGH

HM Land Registry has been a part of central government since its creation in 1862, when it was formed to create security of title to land as an impartial arm of the state. 

The staff make quasi-judicial decisions on thousands of property transactions on a daily basis and record and maintain the register that contains details including house and land purchases, rights, remortgages and other secured debts. 

The Land Registry holds a large amount of personal and financial information, including land ownership, price paid information and details of third-party interests such as loans and court orders.   

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