I am today announcing the outcome of the joint Ministry of Justice and Department for Communities and Local Government consultation on Local Authority Property Search Services—Charges for Property Search Services as it relates to the fee for a personal search of the local land charges register in England. The paper sought views on how and by whom the fee should be set and whether the present fee should be changed. Eight hundred and fifty-eight responses were received. They have been carefully considered and the following decisions reached.

First, there should be no change in the present arrangements for the setting of the fee for the time being. Secondly, the present fee will be increased from £11 to £22 for personal searches of the local land charges register conducted on or after 1 January 2010. I have, with the concurrence of HM Treasury, made and laid the Local Land Charges (Amendment) Rules 2009 to give effect to the change.

The Ministry of Justice will today publish a post-consultation report in relation to the consultation and its outcome. Copies of the report Local Authority Property Search Services—Charges for Property Search Services—The Fee for a Personal Search of the Local Land Charges Register have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.