I write in response to the letter from Andrew Bingham of 27 November (see [2008] Gazette, 27 November, 11).

Land Registry has always made it clear that we intend to introduce e-conveyancing stage by stage, rather than in a one-off ‘big bang’ - an approach we know is welcomed by most of our customers.

We are now concentrating our efforts on automating existing registration services and have already introduced electronic discharges. Electronic charges and transfers will be the focus of e-conveyancing work in 2009 and beyond.

We have always accepted applications directly from members of the public. Land Registry neither encourages nor discourages such applications. Solicitors lodge the vast majority of the applications we receive and we expect this to continue to be the case in both the paper and electronic worlds.

In 2007/8 Land Registry paid indemnity totalling just under £4m as a result of fraud. We continually review our procedures to combat fraud and, though fraud will never be entirely eliminated, we are nevertheless confident that the changes recently introduced by the 2008 Rules will make a difference.

Peter Collis Chief land registrar and chief executive Land Registry