Land Registry office sell-off bid sparks Telford job fears
The future of a Government office in Telford has been thrown into doubt after privatisation plans were revealed.
The Land Registry employs about 300 people in Hall Park Way.
Chancellor George Osborne has been trying to sell off the agency, which controls all property transactions in England and Wales, for several years.
The coalition government tried to privatise the 150-year-old agency two years ago but a campaign was mounted for continued public ownership. But now the Department for Business Innovation and Skills has issued a consultation document, with an aim to sell it off by 2017.
Labour and the unions today accused the Government of attempting to hide the controversial announcement by releasing it over the Easter weekend.
The decision will dismay staff at the Telford office who have campaigned against plans to sell off the service. It also leads to the prospect of contracts for the work carried out at Hall Park Way being put up to tender and being moved away from Telford.
In May last year staff from Telford's Land Registry office walked out as part of a two-day strike about national plans to sell off the agency and cut jobs.
Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Mark Serwotka hinted that further action will take place following the new announcement.
He said: "Homebuyers and owners rely on the Land Registry to provide an impartial professional service and it must remain under public control, free from any profit motive and conflict of interest.
"It is utterly disgraceful that the Government waited until the end of the day before MPs break for Easter to publish its consultation, but is a sure sign ministers know the strength and breadth of opposition they will face."
Labour's shadow business secretary Angela Eagle said: "This announcement was slipped out late on the last day before recess in another desperate attempt to avoid scrutiny."
