• All suppliers – whether from the public, private or Voluntary and Community sector, or new commercial models such as Mutuals – will support Government in driving transparency, in order to build public trust in their services.

• The following categories of information could be reasonably withheld on the grounds of commercial confidentiality … Business plans. This can mean the detail of how the contractor expects to yield a financial return from the service. This can include investment plans. Oooops!

Worth noting there are large areas for get-out, fudge and delaying legal tactics – unless contracts and terms are specific at the outset.

Opacity is of the essence

Ever been bitten by a conspiracy theory? My initial feelings about the embezzlement of our country’s assets haven’t changed (we need integrity, real transparency, training and leadership development). Faced by the Land Registry sale, I didn’t experience more than my usual sentiments when I consider the wrong-headed waste of privatisation. Does the public ever benefit? PFI? — that’s for another day.

Buy a bargain

Flogging the Land Registry came under the spotlight before the Panama leaks … if only just. The sale was vetoed by Vince Cable in 2014 … and it’s been on the Government agenda for a while. Of course, with Cable gone after the last election, it returned to the agenda, if not to a high-profile.

But it’s profitable

The Land Registry in England and Wales earn money for the Treasury. Last year it gave £119M ($169M) back to the UK Treasury. Naturally enough selling it is a government aspiration — ideology is what it is. Doubtless, it’s an attractive and profit-making proposition for buyers at the UK fire sale. What’s the long-term benefit to the UK?

Sorely missed

Is it conceivable the people exposed by the Panama leaks only just missed the chance to have their property dealings obfuscated? Maybe, the government will sell the Land Registry off anyway. If they’d had their way in 2014, what would we have not known about the scale, nature and ownership of the property market in London and elsewhere?

One thing‘s for certain. Sold geese don’t lay golden eggs for their old owners.

© Mac Logan