Protection of Freedoms Bill

Insert the following new Clause—

“Right to information regarding the ownership of land

After section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (general right of access to information) insert—

“1A Right to information regarding the ownership of land

(1) Any person making a request for information to a public authority about the ownership of land is entitled to be informed whether—

(a) the land is owned, and

(b) there has been a registered owner in the last 100 years.

(2) The relevant public authority shall have a duty to provide such information upon request.

(3) Where—

(a) such a request is made in relation to a dispute over the ownership of the land, and

(b) the information is not held by the public authority,

the public authority shall also have a duty to search for the information requested.””