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| Job cuts planned at Land Registry | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| More than 1,000 jobs could be lost as part of a Land Registry five-year plan to cut costs, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) says. | More than 1,000 jobs could be lost as part of a Land Registry five-year plan to cut costs, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) says. |
| The Land Registry aims to save £92m a year by closing offices in Croydon, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Stevenage and Tunbridge Wells and reducing its staff. | |
| PCS said 1,100 jobs could be lost with the office closures, and 400 more staff face having their jobs privatised. | |
| The Land Registry said the changes would make it "fit for the future". | The Land Registry said the changes would make it "fit for the future". |
| A statement on its website said the "reorganisation and transformation ... will cut its costs significantly and put it in the best possible position to deliver the services its customers demand". | A statement on its website said the "reorganisation and transformation ... will cut its costs significantly and put it in the best possible position to deliver the services its customers demand". |
| "The changes will help create a Land Registry that is fit for the future, that can live within its means and that can continue to provide an outstanding service to its customers," it said. | "The changes will help create a Land Registry that is fit for the future, that can live within its means and that can continue to provide an outstanding service to its customers," it said. |
| "Having looked at a range of possibilities, it is proposing to close five local offices and to reduce staff numbers to reflect the move to more online services and the impact of internal efficiency measures." | "Having looked at a range of possibilities, it is proposing to close five local offices and to reduce staff numbers to reflect the move to more online services and the impact of internal efficiency measures." |
| It also announced plans to outsource some "support functions" and sell surplus property. | It also announced plans to outsource some "support functions" and sell surplus property. |
| Two offices in Plymouth, where about 800 people are employed by the Land Registry, are due to be merged. | Two offices in Plymouth, where about 800 people are employed by the Land Registry, are due to be merged. |
| 'Shocked and angry' | 'Shocked and angry' |
| The government body, which records and guarantees the ownership of domestic and commercial property in England and Wales, has a workforce of about 6,000 full-time staff. | |
| The announcement has left staff "shocked and angry", said PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka. | The announcement has left staff "shocked and angry", said PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka. |
| "With 1,700 jobs already gone, there is a real danger that services to the public will suffer as the agency is cut to the bone," he said. | "With 1,700 jobs already gone, there is a real danger that services to the public will suffer as the agency is cut to the bone," he said. |
| He went on to criticise the outsourcing plans, which, the union says, leave 400 staff in human resources, facilities and 14 regional file stores in England facing privatisation. | He went on to criticise the outsourcing plans, which, the union says, leave 400 staff in human resources, facilities and 14 regional file stores in England facing privatisation. |
| "Experience shows that privatisation isn't the silver bullet to save costs and often provides poor value to the taxpayer with corners cut in a bid to turn in a profit," Mr Serwotka said. | "Experience shows that privatisation isn't the silver bullet to save costs and often provides poor value to the taxpayer with corners cut in a bid to turn in a profit," Mr Serwotka said. |
| "The government needs to recognise that putting hardworking civil and public servants on the dole at a time of economic uncertainty will only prolong the recession and the communities affected." | "The government needs to recognise that putting hardworking civil and public servants on the dole at a time of economic uncertainty will only prolong the recession and the communities affected." |
| Public consultation has been launched on the planned office closures. | Public consultation has been launched on the planned office closures. |