Hawley-Green: SDLT debacle Public bodies undergoing IT overhauls that affect their dealings with solicitors should consult closely with software suppliers to avoid debacles such as the recent launch of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), the new chairman of the Legal Software Suppliers Association (LSSA) warned this week.


The hasty introduction of SDLT last winter garnered criticism from lawyers and led the government to introduce a light-touch regime for processing stamp tax certificates, which ended this week (see [2004] Gazette, 15 July, 5).



Barry Hawley-Green, who took over as chairman of the association last week, said: 'Too many organisations do not consult properly with the LSSA when imposing changes.'


He added: 'The recent debacle over SDLT is an example of how solicitors could have saved time money and hassle, if those imposing change had consulted the LSSA in good time.


'The Inland Revenue has been planning the SDLT for a long, long time. But it is only in the last eight weeks that we found out that they had never consulted software suppliers.'


He said that this contrasted with the Land Registry, which is liaising closely with the LSSA in relation to its proposed e-conveyancing initiative.


Mr Hawley-Green, who is chairman of electronic forms business Laserform, said: 'I'm going to champion the cause of better software for lawyers. To do this the LSSA has to be a full partner in all initiatives affecting solicitors.'