Corporate report

Financial statements

Published 14 July 2022

Applies to England and Wales

Departmental financial statements

Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure for the period ended 31 March 2022

Note 2021/22 (£’000) 2020/21 (£’000)
Other operating income 3.1 (2,704) (2,780)
Total operating income (2,704) (2,780)
Staff costs 4.1 269,188 243,735
Purchase of goods and services 3.2 76,670 70,497
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment charges 3.2 12,274 14,005
Indemnity provision and payments for Indemnity including legal costs 3.2 4,960 3,049
Total operating expenditure 363,092 331,286
Net operating expenditure 360,388 328,506
Capital grant-in-kind 3 231 52,752
Finance income: Interest 5 (51) (19)
Finance expense: Finance Leases 6 1,280 575
(Profit)/Loss on disposal of non-current assets SoCF (12)
Net expenditure for the year 361,836 381,814
Other comprehensive net expenditure
Items which will not be reclassified to net operating expenditure
Net (gain)/ loss on revaluation of property, plant and equipment 7 2,484
Comprehensive net expenditure for the year 361,836 384,298

The Notes to departmental accounts are an integral part of these accounts.

Statement of Financial Position as at 31 March 2022

Cash flows from operating activities Note 2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Net operating income/ (expenditure) SoCNE (360,388) (328,506)
Adjustments for non-cash transactions:      
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 3.2 10,464 7,173
Amortisation of intangible assets 3.2 1,309 4,632
Impairment of non-current assets 3.2 501 2,200
(Increase)/ decrease in trade & other receivables 10, 12 (7,357) 1,686
Increase/ (decrease) in trade & other payables 13 2,880 (6,013)
Less movements not passing through the SoCNE   1 (1)
Auditor’s remuneration 3.2 106 106
Decrease/ (increase) in Indemnity Fund 14.2 4,980 3,029
Use of Indemnity Fund Provision 14.2 (5,780) (5,629)
Use of other provisions 14.1 (7) (458)
Net cash inflow/ (outflow) from operating activities   (353,291) (321,781)
Cash flows from investing activities      
Purchase of tangible assets   (5,036) (8,847)
Purchase of intangible assets   (36,708) (23,316)
Proceeds from disposal of tangible assets   496 -
Interest received on bank deposits 5    
Net cash inflow/ (outflow) from investing activities      
Cash flows from financing activities      
From the Consolidated Fund (Supply) – current year SoCTE 413,327 380,650
Repayments of capital element of obligations under finance leases 10 (6,178) (273)
Interest element of obligations under finance leases 6 (1,280) (575)
Interest received on leases 5 51 -
Net financing   405,920 379,802
Net increase/ (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the period before adjustment for payments to the Consolidated Fund   11,381 25,877
Payments of amounts due to the Consolidated Fund   (3,640) (2,403)
Net increase/ (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the period after adjustment for receipts and payments to the Consolidated Fund   7,741 23,474
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 11 23,474 -
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 11 31,215 23,474

The Notes to departmental accounts are an integral part of these accounts.

Note Revaluation reserve (£’000) General Fund (£’000) Total reserves (£’000)
Balance at 31 March 2020   24,981 (33,158) (8,177)
Net Parliamentary Fund - drawn down   - 380,650 380,650
Comprehensive net expenditure for the year SoCNE - (381,814) (381,814)
Amounts paid to the Consolidated Fund   - (2,403) (2,403)
Auditor’s remuneration SoCNE (2,484) - (2,484)
Revaluation reserve transfer   (22,497) 22,497 -
Income payable to the Consolidated Fund 11 - (377) (377)
Supply (payable)/ receivable adjustment 11 - (23,097) (23,097)
Balance at 31 March 2021     (37,596) (37,596) (37,596)
Net Parliamentary Fund - drawn down   - 436,801 436,801
Comprehensive net expenditure for the year SoCNE - (361,835) (361,835)
Amounts paid to the Consolidated Fund   - (3,640) (3,640)
Auditor’s remuneration 3.3 - 106 106
Income payable to the Consolidated Fund 11 - (309) (309)
Amounts payable to the Consolidated Fund for the year 11 - (30,905) (30,905)
Taxpayers’ Equity at 31 March 2022   - 2,622 2,622

The Notes to departmental accounts are an integral part of these accounts.

Notes to departmental accounts

1 Statement of accounting policies

1.1 Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) 2021-22 and comply with the Accounts Direction given by HM Treasury. The accounting policies contained in the FReM follow International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as adapted or interpreted for the public sector context. Where the FReM permits a choice of accounting policy, the accounting policy that has been judged to be the most appropriate to the particular circumstances of HM Land Registry for the purposes of giving a true and fair view has been selected. HM Land Registry’s accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items considered material in relation to the financial statements.

In addition to the primary statements prepared under IFRS, the FReM also requires the department to prepare a Statement of Parliamentary Supply and supporting notes to show Outturn against Estimate in terms of net resource requirement and net cash requirement.

The department is legally obliged under the Land Registration Act 2002 to provide statutory services relating to land registration and there are sufficient reserves to support the department going forward. In common with other government departments, the future financing of the department’s liabilities is to be met by future grants of Supply and the application of future income, both to be approved annually by Parliament. It is therefore considered appropriate to prepare these accounts on a going concern basis.

These accounts have been prepared under the Government Resource and Accounts Act 2000.

Accounting standards issued but not yet effective IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts will become effective from 1 January 2023 for public sector organisations. This reporting standard is anticipated to have no accounting impact upon HM Land Registry as no such insurance contracts are held.

1.2 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared on an accruals basis under the historical cost convention modified for the revaluation of Property, Plant and Equipment, Investment Properties, Assets Held for Sale and Intangible Assets to fair value as determined by the relevant accounting standard.

1.3 Areas of significant estimate and judgements

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The estimates and judgements that had a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next accounting period are:

  • Note 9 - The valuation and useful economic life (UEL) of the intangible assets. The valuation is the direct replacement cost of the register and the data that is currently in use. The replacement cost includes all costs that are reliably measured and the economic life is reviewed each financial year to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support the life chosen. For Intangible Assets, the UEL of data assets and bespoke internally developed assets was extended. This change was made to the account prospectively, as it reflects a change in accounting estimate from the start of the 2021-22 financial year.

  • Note 13.2 - estimation of the provision required to settle all known and Incurred But Not Reported (IBNR) indemnity claims – where uncertainty exists for the proportion of outstanding claims that will ultimately be paid, the value of those payments and the effect of any legal judgements. For IBNR claims, the number of unreported claims is unknown as is the point at which an error is discovered and the value of any potential claim.

1.4 Income from contracts with customers

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers has been adopted. The income recognition criteria within IFRS 15 are consistent with HM Land Registry accounting policy. All Statutory fees and charges are held in a separate HM Land Registry Trust Statement. Income in the Statement of Net Expenditure relates to property rental income which is recognised as the amounts fall due.

1.5 Operating segments

HM Land Registry’s operating segments are the directorates which are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM). The seven reportable business segments are: Chief Executive & Chief Land Registrar’s Office, Human Resources. Finance & Business Services, Operations, Legal, Transformation and Digital, Data & Technology. This is based on the group’s internal organisation and management structure, and is the primary way in which the CODM is provided with financial information. The CODM of HM Land Registry is Simon Hayes, Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar.

1.6 Employee benefits

The cost of providing employee benefits is recognised in the period in which HM Land Registry receives services from its employees, rather than when it is paid or payable. Short-term employee benefits are recognised as an expense in the period in which the employee renders the service. Performance payments are recognised only when there is a legal or constructive obligation to pay them and the costs can be reliably estimated. Termination benefits are recognised when it can be demonstrated that there is an irreversible agreement to terminate the employment of employee(s) before the schemes’ retirement date or as a result of an offer to encourage voluntary redundancy.

1.7 Pensions

HM Land Registry employees are civil servants who are entitled to be members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) or the Civil Servant and Other Pension Scheme (CSOPS) – known as alpha. These are unfunded multi-employer defined benefit schemes, but HM Land Registry is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities on a reasonable and consistent basis. HM Land Registry has therefore accounted for contributions and payments to these schemes under International Accounting Standard (IAS) 19 Employee Benefits as if they were defined contribution schemes. Liability for the payment of future

1.8 Property, plant and equipment

Freehold and leasehold land and buildings are professionally valued by external, independent property valuers having appropriate recognised professional qualifications and recent experience in the location and category of the properties being valued. Montagu Evans (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) registered valuer) carried out a desktop valuation in March 2021 to facilitate the transfer of assets to the Government Property Agency.

HM Land Registry is required by the FReM to disclose non-current assets in the Statement of Financial Position at fair value. For assets in use the FReM requires operational assets to be measured at fair value using current value in existing use, rather than market value as required by IAS 16 Property Plant and Equipment. Details of FReM adaptations which continue to apply for 2021- 22 can be found on GOV.UK (search ‘Financial Reporting Manual 2021-22’).

For short-life non-property assets, historical cost is used as an approximation to the fair value of the asset. Freehold land and buildings and leasehold buildings are included at revaluation less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

All other tangible non-current assets are included at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

Assets in the course of construction are not depreciated. For other assets the depreciation charge is calculated so as to allocate the cost or revalued amount, less the estimated residual value, of non-current assets systematically over their remaining useful lives using the straight-line method.

Other property, plant and equipment includes IT and office equipment and machinery. HM Land Registry capitalises expenditure over £1,000 for an individual asset. Where appropriate, individual assets falling below the minimum value for capitalisation are grouped. It is HM Land Registry’s policy not to capitalise expenditure on fixtures or fittings, principally office furniture, as they are not considered material.

Asset lives are reviewed at the end of each financial year. In 2021-22, the policy for depreciation of Useful Economic Lives (UEL) was amended to reflect the underlying nature of the assets being acquired by HM Land Registry, whereby a 3 to 5 year range is found to be more reflective of the new underlying assets rather than a fixed 5 year term.

The following asset depreciation rates are used:

Freehold land Nil
Freehold buildings Estimated useful life
Leasehold buildings Period of the lease or estimated useful life
Telecommunications equipment 5 years
Office equipment 5 years
Computers: Mainframe 3 to 5 years
Computers: PCs 5 years
Structured cabling 10 years
Plant and heavy machinery 10 years

1.9 Leases

Adoption of IFRS 16 Leases on 1 April 2021 led to assets previously classified as property, plant and equipment held under finance leases being re-classified as right-of-use assets, and being disclosed under Note 10.1, with the associated costs being recognised in Note 10.2. These assets and liabilities exclude those that have lease with a short-life (less than 12 months), or are considered ‘low-value’ under IFRS 16.

HM Land Registry holds a single lease which it defines as low value as it is valued at £6k. For this particular lease, the low value criteria is appropriate as it relates to a very small sub-lease within a much larger government property.

Initial recognition:

At the commencement of the lease (or the IFRS 16 transition date, if later), HM Land Registry recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability.

The lease liability is measured at the payment for the remaining lease term (as defined above), net of irrecoverable value added tax, discounted either by the rate implicit in the lease, or (where this cannot be determined) HM Land Registry’s central internal rate of borrowing. The payments included in the liability are those that are fixed, or in substance fixed, excluding charges arising (that is from future rent reviews or indexation). The right-of-use asset is measured at the value of the liability, adjusted for: any payments made or amounts accrued before the commencement date; lease incentives received; incremental costs in obtaining the lease; and any disposal costs at the end of the lease.

Subsequent measurement:

The right-of-use assets are measured using the cost model.

The liability is adjusted for interest repayments.

Lease expenditure Expenditure includes interest, straight-line depreciation and any asset impairments and any changes in variable lease payments not included in the measurement of the liability during the period in which the triggering event occurred. Lease payments are debited against the liability. Rental payments for leases where the term is 12 months or less, or where the lease is classified as low-value, are expensed.

Borrowing rate:

HM Land Registry uses a HM Treasury discount rate as its incremental borrowing rate. HM Treasury’s PES (2021) 10 paper states that the incremental borrowing rate (a nominal rate) for leases commencing in the 2021 calendar year is 0.91%.

Transitional arrangement:

HM Land Registry has made the decision to adopt IFRS 16 using the cumulative catch-up method. As a result, comparatives will not be restated and the measurement of the asset and liability balances are recognised from 1 April 2021. Consequently, the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure and the Statement of Financial Position for 2020-21 reflect the requirements of IAS 17.

For leases previously recognised as Finance Leases, the carrying value of the lease asset and liability as measured immediately before first adoption will be used as valued under IAS 17 to provide the carrying value of the right-of-use asset and the lease liability at first adoption.

For leases previously recognised as Operating Leases, the right-to-use asset and associated liability will be measured by calculating the present value of the remaining payments, discounted as set out above in ‘Initial Recognition’.

Accounting for leases under IAS 17 (2020-21) Where HM Land Registry retains all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset subject to a lease under IAS 17, the lease is treated as a finance lease. Future instalments payable under finance leases, net of finance charges, are included in liabilities with the corresponding asset values recorded in non-current assets and depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or their lease terms. Lease payments are apportioned between the finance element, which is charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure as interest, and the capital element, which reduces the outstanding obligation for future instalments.

1.10 Investment properties Investment properties are measured at its fair value. The fair value valuation is its current market value in existing use. All of HM Land Registry’s investment properties were included in the Government Property Agency transfer on 31 March 2021.

1.11 Intangible assets Intangible assets are stated at historical cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses as a proxy for fair value, since no active market exists for the department’s intangible assets. This treatment is also known as Depreciated Replacement Cost.

Annual review of Useful Economic Life (UEL) of Intangible Assets In 2021-22, HM Land Registry performed its’ annual review of the UELs of Intangible Assets in accordance with IAS 38 Intangible Assets. HM Land Registry’s review used both internal indicators and also benchmarked its’ UELs against those used in comparable organisations within the public sector. As a result, HM Land Registry made the following changes to UELs:

New life Old life
Bespoke internally developed software 10 years 5 years
Data assets 15 years 10 years

Local Land Charges

HM Land Registry completed the building and development of a computerised register to hold the Local Land Charges data in July 2018. As of 31 March 2022, the data relating to 23 local authorities has been added to the register and is in use (2020-21: 13 local authorities).

Under IAS 38, development costs have been capitalised for two separate assets: a database to hold the information; and the data itself, which needs to be cleansed, digitised and migrated to this database. Following commencement of the register service, these components are amortised over their respective useful lives of:

Local Land Charges register 10 years
Local Land Charges data 15 years

Software and software licences

Separately acquired intangible assets are shown at historical cost. The costs incurred to acquire and bring these assets to use are capitalised. These include contractors’ charges, materials, directly attributable labour and directly attributable overhead costs. Software licences are included at cost less accumulated amortisation. They are amortised on a straight-line basis at a rate of:

Mainframe software 5 years
Software system 10 years
Software licences As per licence agreements

HM Land Registry’s approach to software development is set-out in Note 1.12.

E-security, portal and Business Gateway The E-security, portal and Business Gateway assets had all been fully amortised by the start of the financial year, but are included in the accounts as they are still in use.

1.12 Assets Under Construction

All Assets Under Construction (AUC) assets are held at cost. HM Land Registry recognises three categories of AUC: Tangible, Intangible – Local Land Charges, and Intangible – Other. These classes of asset relate to the capitalisation of Local Land Charges costs during the year, case management improvements, mainframe to cloud-based migration and digital mortgage. More details about digital mortgage can be found on GOV.UK (search ‘HM Land Registry Digital Mortgage Service Contingent Liability’).

Intangibles other – Software development costs

In accordance with IAS 38, expenditure incurred on developing new IT infrastructure (covering third-party costs and the direct costs of in-house staff effort) are capitalised. Development costs that are directly attributable to the design and testing of identifiable and unique software products controlled by HM Land Registry are recognised as intangible assets when the requirements of IAS 38 are met.

Directly attributable costs that are capitalised as part of the software product include the software development employee costs and an appropriate portion of relevant overheads. Other development expenditure that does not meet these criteria is recognised as an expense as incurred. Development costs previously recognised are not recognised as an asset in a subsequent period.

All research expenditure is written off as incurred.

Expenditure incurred in software development is recorded as an intangible asset under construction and is then transferred into use as an intangible asset once that software and associated data is made available by HM Land Registry to its customers (either as part of the Local Land Charges Programme or Other).

Software development costs are categorised as ‘assets under construction’ within Note 9.

Intangibles – Local Land Charges

HM Land Registry is working with various local authorities to transfer their land charges data to HM Land Registry’s digital platform.

Transformation Digital Assets

Digital software assets developed from work within HM Land Registry’s Transformation Directorate.

Tangible – other

This area reflects other HM Land Registry workstreams including the development of IT infrastructure.

1.13 Impairment of non-current assets

Impairment reviews are undertaken at each year-end and if there are indications that the asset has suffered an impairment loss a charge is reflected in the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure in the year in which it occurs. If the asset is carried at a revalued amount, the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease, to the extent of the revaluation reserve that relates to the asset, with any excess in the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use.

For assets under development, an annual review is undertaken to confirm that these assets still meet the measurement criteria within IAS 38 Intangible Assets.

1.14 Trade receivables

Trade receivables do not carry any interest and are stated at their nominal value as reduced by appropriate allowances for irrecoverable amounts. These impairment provisions are recorded in administrative expenses within the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure. The carrying amount of trade receivables is deemed to be an approximation of fair value.

If collection of amounts receivable is expected in one year or less they are classified as current assets. If not, they are presented as non-current assets.

1.15 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash represents cash-in-hand, cash held with the Government Banking Service (GBS) and commercial banks. The commercial bank and GBS deposits are immediately available funds. HM Land Registry closed all commercial bank accounts in-year, so all funds sit within GBS at year-end.

1.16 Trade payables

Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods and services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Trade payables are stated at nominal value. The carrying amount of trade payables is deemed to be an approximation of fair value.

Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

1.17 Provisions

HM Land Registry provides for legal and constructive obligations that are of uncertain timing or amount at the Statement of Financial Position date, on the basis of management’s best estimate at that date of the expenditure required to settle the obligation. As the effect of discounting is immaterial, it is included as part of the revaluation to that provision in year, rather than disclosed on a separate line. Provisions are charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure and recorded as liabilities in the Statement of Financial Position. (Further details, including sensitivities, are given in Note 14.)

1.18 Indemnity Fund

Schedule 8 to the Land Registration Act 2002 requires HM Land Registry to indemnify third parties against loss caused by mistakes in the register, mistakes in search results and loss of documents by HM Land Registry. Most of HM Land Registry’s indemnity claims arise as a result of mistakes in the register, and some of these mistakes are the result of forgery of documents such as charges. Indeed fraud/forgery usually accounts for the largest share of indemnity payments, and this year is no exception. Under Schedule 8 to the Act, HM Land Registry has statutory rights to recover these payments from third parties, where it is the case that third parties are at fault, either wholly or partly, for the loss.

As at the current accounting date, future claim payments are uncertain in timing and amount. The Indemnity Fund is established on the basis of the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation. The Indemnity Fund is determined after considering actuarial estimates of the cost of claims reported but not settled, as well as claims incurred but not reported. The estimated cost of claims includes expenses incurred in settling these claims.

The carrying amount of the Indemnity Fund is derived from critical judgements, estimates and assumptions based upon historical experience and other factors which are considered to be relevant. These estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on a quarterly basis by HM Land Registry, supported by its independent actuary, the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD).

After the accounting date, a further review of claims received by HM Land Registry (up to the date the Accounting Officer approves the Annual Report and Accounts) is made to see if the Indemnity Fund is still appropriately valued. Provided in these accounts are the likely settlement values of current and future claims against the Indemnity Fund. Further details of the Indemnity Fund are shown in Note 14.2 of this report.

1.19 Contingent liabilities

Where appropriate, liabilities that have only a possible chance of crystallising and do not meet the provisions criteria have been classified as contingent liabilities. This includes, but is not limited to, claims for losses arising from errors, or fraud in relation to HM Land Registry’s statutory responsibilities as insurer of titles in England and Wales (see Note 15).

1.20 VAT

HM Land Registry accounts for VAT on its statutory activities under HM Treasury’s Taxing and Contracting Out of Services Directions. For non-statutory activity – which is business activity – VAT is charged and recovered according to commercial VAT rules. Irrecoverable VAT is charged to the relevant expenditure category or included in the capitalised purchase costs of non-current assets. Where output tax is charged or input tax is recoverable the amounts are stated net of VAT.

2 Operating segments

2.1 Operating segments

2021/22 Business as usual (£'000) Central costs (£'000) Projects (£'000) Total expenditure (£'000)
Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar’s Directorate 3,984 3,984
Human Resources (HR) 8,279 - 1,774 10,053
Finance and Business Services (FaBS) 13,191 25,852 894 39,937
Operations 206,137 12,901 219,038
Legal and Assurance 20,638 4,960 25,598
Transformation Directorate 2,705 (1,777) 8,733 9,661
Digital, Data and Technology 43,679 501 9,383 53,563
Total 298,613 29,536 33,685 361,834
2020/21 Business as usual (£'000) Central costs (£'000) Projects (£'000) Total expenditure (£'000)
Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar’s Directorate 3,408 3,408
Human Resources (HR) 7,265 (3) 591 7,853
Finance and Business Services (FaBS) 11,102 84,199 2,999 98,300
Operations 186,389 8,083 194,472
Legal and Assurance 19,377 3,049 22,426
Transformation Directorate 2,080 3,651 3,479 9,210
Digital, Data and Technology 37,209 490 11,226 48,925
Total 266,830 91,386 26,378 384,594

Operating Segments are determined in accordance with IFRS 8 Operating Segments based on what information is presented for decision making purposes to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM). The CODM for HM Land Registry is the Accounting Officer.

The structure of HM Land Registry means that materially all of the assets included in the Statement of Financial Position are used for general administration and benefit of HM Land Registry as a whole. Consequently, they are not apportioned to operating segments in the table above.

The description for each operating segment is stated below:

Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar’s Directorate

The directorate works to uphold and enhance the reputation of HM Land Registry on behalf of the Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar through effective corporate communications, governance, policy and stakeholder functions.

Human Resources

Human Resources works to help HM Land Registry deliver its operational and organisational priorities, and build organisational capacity and capability to meet new challenges.

Finance and Business Services (FaBS)

The FaBS Directorate includes Facilities Management, Finance, Internal Audit, Commercial Group, Strategic Planning and Performance, and Insight, Data, Evidence and Analytical Support.

Operations

The Operations Directorate’s main function is to register land and provide a high quality and sustainable level of service to our customers, measured against a set of key performance indicators.

Legal and Assurance work to protect the integrity of the register, ensuring we have the rules, orders, directions and notices in place to operate effectively.

Transformation Directorate

The Transformation Directorate designs and coordinates the transformation activity that takes place across all other directorates.

Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT)

The DDaT directorate is responsible for: building new digital services; defining and implementing HMLR’s data strategy; developing data products; and managing, maintaining and developing all the technology staff use.

Expenditure streams

The expenditure streams are split into three categories: business as usual (BAU); central costs; and projects. This division is designed to show the costs of running the directorate (BAU), additional tasks being completed by directorate (projects), and to separate out the central running costs for HM Land Registry (central costs).

Central Costs

This category includes items such as staff leave accruals, property costs, depreciation, amortisation, provisions, and impairments which are monitored by a single directorate but could be apportioned across the organisation. Below are explanations relating to the most significant variances arising in the central costs category.

In 2021-22, £231k of central costs in FaBS includes capital grant-in-kind for the legacy assets being transferred to Government Property Agency, following the transfer of HM Land Registry’s land, freehold buildings and the majority of its’ long-leasehold buildings in 2020- 21 for £52.75m.

Variance between Note 2. Operating Segments and Statement of Net Comprehensive Expenditure

The operating segments shown are above are presented net of revenue (see Note 3).

3 Goods and services

3.1 Operating Income

Income from sale of goods and services 2021/22 (£’000) 2020/21 (£’000)
Income from sale of goods and services (2,704) (2,780)
Total operating income (2,704) (2,780)

3.2 Other costs

Cash items Note 2021/22 (£’000) 2020/21 (£’000)
IT services 19,934 16,065
Accommodation costs 13,838 17,271
Professional fees 11,478 10,160
Other staff costs including training 5,386 4,992
Local Land Charges transition and burden payments 4,909 134
File store costs 4,230 4,121
Survey and scanning costs 4,230 3,695
Hire of machinery 2,872 2,792
First-tier Tribunal costs 2,756 3,141
Postage and printing costs 1,813 1,449
Telecommunication costs 1,792 1,746
Office maintenance 1,101 1,143
Charge for operating leases – buildings 10 6 1,627
Advertising and marketing 847 805
Other costs 1,373 1,250
Total cash expenditure 76,565 70,391
Non-cash items Note 2021/22 (£’000) 2020/21 (£’000)
Indemnity provision and payments for Indemnity including legal costs 14 4,960 3,049
Capital grant-in-kind SoPS 2 231 52,752
Depreciation of tangible non-current assets – owned 7 4,360 6,570
Depreciation of tangible non-current assets – leased 7, 10 6,104 603
Amortisation of intangible assets 8 1,309 4,632
Impairment in value of non-current assets 7 501 2,200
Auditor's remuneration – audit fee 3.3 106 106
Total non-cash expenditure 17,571 69,912
Total other costs 94,136 140,303

3.3 Auditor’s Remuneration Auditor’s Remuneration is a notional fee in both financial years paid through the Supply Process, which is broken down as follows:

2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Audit of Resource Accounts 86 86
Audit of Trust Statement Accounts 20 20
#Total notional fee 106 106

4 Employee information

4.1 Staff costs

2021/22 costs Permanent staff (£’000) Others (£’000) Total (£’000)
Salaries 197,359 1,390 198,749
Social security costs 19,933 123 20,056
Other pension costs 50,088 295 50,383
Total 267,380 1,808 269,188
2020/21 costs Permanent staff (£’000) Others (£’000) Total (£’000)
Salaries 177,533 2,415 179,948
Social security costs 17,258 165 17,423
Other pension costs 45,798 566 46,364
Total 240,589 3,146 243,735

4.2 Staff numbers

The average number of persons employed (full-time equivalent) by HM Land Registry during the year was made up as follows:

2020/21 numbers Permanent staff Others Total
Senior management 7 7
Operations 4,671 17 4,688
Head office 684 15 699
DDaT 672 6 678
Total 6,034 38 6,072
2020/21 numbers Permanent staff Others Total
Senior management 8 8
Operations 4303 24 4,327
Head office 567 8 575
DDaT 548 45 593
Total 5,426 77 5,503

4.3

The salary and pension entitlements of the Chief Executive and the Directors of HM Land Registry are included in the Remuneration and staff report

The staff costs in Note 4.1 do not include those staff costs capitalised as part of the building of intangible assets. During 2021-22 £11.0m (2020-21: £5.9m) of staff costs was capitalised in the construction of these intangible assets.

4.4 Pensions

The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) and the Civil Servant and Others Pension Scheme (CSOPS) – known as alpha – are unfunded multi-employer defined benefit schemes but HM Land Registry is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities. The scheme actuary, the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), valued the PCSPS as at 31 March 2021, with the report published on 27 January 2022. You can find details in the resource accounts of the Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation.

For 2021-22, employers’ contributions of £50.1m were payable to the PCSPS and CSOPS (2020-21 £46.8m) at one of four rates in the range 26.6% to 30.3% of pensionable earnings, based on salary bands.

The Scheme Actuary reviews employer contributions usually every four years following a full scheme valuation. The contribution rates are set to meet the cost of the benefits accruing during 2021-22 to be paid when the member retires and not the benefits paid during this period to existing pensioners.

Employees can opt to open a partnership pension account, a stakeholder pension with an employer contribution. Employers’ contributions of £0.40m were paid to one appointed stakeholder pension provider. Employer contributions are age-related and ranged from 8% to 14.75%.

Employers also match employee contributions up to 3% of pensionable earnings. In addition, employer contributions of £9,258, 0.5% of pensionable pay were payable to the PCSPS to cover the cost of the future provision of lump sum benefits on death in service or ill-health retirement of these employees.

Contributions due to the partnership pension providers at the balance sheet date were £0.04m. Contributions prepaid at that date were £0.

Seven individuals retired early on ill-health grounds; the total additional accrued pension liabilities in the year amounted to £27,923 (2020-21: £13,669).

Further information relating to pension arrangements can be found in the [Remuneration and staff report](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-land-registry-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-to-2022/accountability-report#parliamentary-accountability-report and Note 1.7.

5. Finance income

Interest 2021/22 (£’000) 2020/21 (£’000)
Interest on bank deposits - 19
Interest received on leases 51 -
Total 51 19

6 Finance expense: Finance leases

Interest 2021/22 (£’000) 2020/21 (£’000)
Interest on obligations under finance leases 1,280 575

7. Property, plant and equipment

Following the adoption of IFRS 16 with effect from 1 April 2021, as explained in Note 1.8, assets previously classified as property, plant and equipment held under finance leases have been reclassified as right-of-use assets and are disclosed under Note 10.

7.1 Cost or valuation

Property Plant and equipment
Freehold land (£’000) Buildings (£’000) Leasehold buildings (£’000) IT-related assets (£’000) Other plant and equipment (£’000) Total
At 1 April 2021 - - - 90,721 2,501 93,222
Additions 4,956 80 5,036
Assets brought into use 552 552
Impairment (501) (501)
Disposals (6,984) (264) (7,248)
At 31 March 2022 88,744 2,317 91,061
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 April 2021 69,252 2,079 71,331
Charged in year - - 4,239 121 4,360
Disposals (6,502) (34) (6,536)
At 31 March 2022 66,989 2,166 69,155
Carrying amount at 31 March 2022 21,755 151 21,906

7.2 Cost or valuation

Property Plant and equipment
Freehold land (£’000) Buildings (£’000) Leasehold buildings (£’000) IT-related assets (£’000) Other plant and equipment (£’000) Total
At 1 April 2020 12,255 54,162 13,448 83,086 5,865 168,816
Transfer from investment property 80 2,122 1,112 3,314
Additions 3,745 518 4,263
Assets brought into use 4,293 4,293
Revaluation (1,170) (3,392) 2,078 (2,484)
Impairment (105) (2,095) (2,200)
Disposals (11,060) (50,797) (16,638) (403) (3,882) (82,780)
At 31 March 2021 90,721 2,501 93,222
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 April 2020 19,964 6,161 63,773 4,101 93,999
Transfer from investment property - 60 124 - - 184
Charged in year - 1,277 603 5,881 291 8,052
Revaluation (481) (397) (878)
Disposals (20,820) (6,491) (402) (2,313) (30,026)
At 31 March 2021 69,252 2,079 71,331
Carrying amount at 31 March 2022 21,469 422 21,891

See Note 1.8 for details of the property, plant and equipment accounting policy.

See Note 1.13 for details of the impairment accounting policy.

See Note 7.3 for details of investment properties.

The market value of land and buildings at the transfer date (31 March 2021) to the Government Property Agency (GPA) was £51.2m, resulting in a nil net book value for HM Land Registry. A further £0.2m of legacy plant and equipment assets were also transferred to the GPA on 30 November 2021, also resulting in a nil net book value for HM Land Registry.

7.3 Investment properties

2021/22 (£’000) 2020/21 (£’000)
At 1 April - 3,130
Transfer to land and buildings - (3,130)
Revaluation during the year -
Reclassification of assets
Disposals
At 31 March -

Investment properties comprised of a number of properties that are leased to third parties either in part or whole. These investment properties transferred to the GPA on 31 March 2021. Further information about HM Land Registry’s remaining leases is included in Note 10.

The fair values of investment properties were determined by an external independent property valuer, having appropriate recognised professional qualifications and recent experience in the locations and categories of the properties being valued.

8 Intangible assets

8.1 Cost or valuation

E-security, portal and Business Gateway (£’000) Local Land Charges (£’000) Software and Software licences (£’000) Total
At 1 April 2021 27,424 21,771 47,718 96,913
Additions 837 837
Assets brought into use 3,636 21,255 24,891
At 31 March 2022 27,424 25,407 69,810 122,641
Amortisation
At 1 April 2021 27,424 8,788 38,951 75,163
Charged in year 1,346 (37) 1,309
At 31 March 2022 27,424 10,134 38,914 76,472
Carrying amount at 31 March 2022 15,273 30,896 46,169

8.2 Cost or valuation

E-security, portal and Business Gateway (£’000) Local Land Charges (£’000) Software and Software licences (£’000) Total
At 1 April 2020 27,424 19,172 40,097 86,693
Additions 770 770
Assets brought into use 2,599 6,851 9,450
At 31 March 2021 27,424 21,771 47,718 96,913
Amortisation
At 1 April 2021 27,424 5,137 37,970 70,531
Charged in year 3,651 981 4,632
At 31 March 2022 27,424 8,788 38,951 75,163
Carrying amount at 31 March 2022 12,983 8,767 21,750

See Note 1.12 for details of the intangible assets accounting policy.

The 2020-21 figures are restated to separate out Assets Under Construction (AUC) which are now shown in Note 9, and has been subject to Audit.

9 Assets under construction

Tangibles Intangibles
Other assets (£’000) Local Land Charges (£’000) Transformation, Digital Assets (£’000) Restated: Other assets Total
2021-22
At 1 April 1,058 3,085 14,277 6,442 24,862
Additions 1,051 10,826 16,561 7,433 35,871
Brought into use (552) (3,636) (20,643) (612) (25,443)
Carrying amount at 31 March 1,557 10,275 10,195 13,263 35,290
2020-21
At 1 April 767 989 5,392 4,327 11,475
Additions 4,584 4,185 15,735 3,007 27,511
Brought into use (4,293) (2,089) (6,850) (892) (14,124)
Carrying amount at 31 March 2022 1,058 3,085 14,277 6,442 24,862

See Note 1.13 for details of the impairment accounting policy.

10 Leases

As explained in Note 1.9, HM Land Registry adopted IFRS 16 Leases from 1 April 2021. As permitted by the FReM, HM Land Registry has implemented it using the cumulative catch-up method, without restating prior year figures. Most leases recognised as operating leases until 31 March 2021 are now recognised as right-of-use lease assets, with the associated costs being recognised in Notes 10.2.

10.1 Right-of-use lease assets

Buildings (£’000)
Cost or valuation  
IAS17 transition to IFRS16 4,597
Additions 71,742
#At 31 March 76,339
Depreciation  
At 1 April -
Transitioned leases 2,084
IFRS16 leases 4,783
At 31 March 6,867
Carrying amount at 31 March 69,472

HM Land Registry’s right-of-use assets and in-year depreciation is off-set by its’ lessor accounting as follows:

£’000
IAS17 transition to IFRS16: Reduction in Asset Value (4,002)
IAS17 transition to IFRS16: Depreciation off-set 763
IAS17 transition to IFRS16: Lessor total (3,239)
Total value of HM Land Registry’s right-of-use assets 66,233

10.2 Lease liabilities: Present value of minimum lease payments

Amounts payable under finance leases 2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Within one year 5,765 310
In the second to fifth years inclusive 21,990 1,714
After five years 46,415 1,985
Total minimum lease payments 74,170 4,009
Current 5,765 310
Non-current 68,405 3,699
Total 74,170 4,009

Amounts recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure

Total (£’000)
Depreciation 6,867
Finance Charges: Interest on obligations under finance leases 1,280
Finance Income: Interest received on leases (51)
Low value and short term leases 6
  8,102

Amounts recognised in the Statement of Cash Flows

Total (£’000)
Finance Charges: Interest on obligations under finance leases 1,280
Finance Income: Interest received on leases (51)
Repayments of principal on leases 1,229

10.3 HM Land Registry as lessor

At 31 March the future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases are receivable as follows:

2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Within one year 617  
In the second to fifth years inclusive 1,634  
After five years 1,120  
  3,371  

This excludes sub-leases where the lease term is less than 12 months or where annual rent is considered low value (see Note 1.9).

10.4 Reconciliation from the IAS 17 operating lease commitment on 31 March 2021 to the IFRS 16 opening lease liability on 1 April 2021

This table reconciles the amount of HM Land Registry’s operating lease commitments as at 31 March 2021, shown in Note 10.2 to the lease liabilities as at 1 April 2021, immediately following adoption of IFRS 16. Thereafter, the material reconciling items are an adjustment for the impact of discounting and for the differing assessments of the lease term (the previous operating lease commitment reflected amounts payable during the non-cancellable lease period, while the IFRS 16 lease term reflects HM Land Registry’s assessment of the likelihood that it will exercise lease extension or cancellation options).

Opening lease liabilities are greater than opening right-of-use assets because some properties are sub-let so the asset is classified as a receivable, and operating lease accruals recognised under IAS 17 are de-recognised and deducted from the right-of-use asset upon implementation of IFRS 16.

£’000
Operating leases disclosed at 31 March 2021 4,866
Change in value in operating leases 18
Operating leases below IFRS16 recognition criteria (6)
Operating lease value as at 1 April 2021 4,878
Impact of discounting (281)
Existing finance lease liability 4,009
Finance lease liability at 1 April 2021 8,606
Finance Leases acquired in year from the Government Property Agency 71,742
Total finance lease capital value 80,348
Capital repayment of leases in year (6,178)
Finance lease liability as at 31 March 2022 74,170

11 Cash at bank and in hand

2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Balance at 1 April 23,474 -
Net change in cash balances 7,740 23,474
Balance at 31 March 31,214 23,474
The balance at 31 March was held at    
Government Banking Service 31,214 23,498
Commercial banks and cash-in-hand - (24)
#Balance at 31 March 31,214 23,474

HM Land Registry’s financial assets are bank balances and cash, and trade and other receivables, which represent the maximum exposure to credit risk in relation to financial assets. The credit risk is primarily attributable to trade and other receivables and is spread over a large number of customers. The amounts presented in the Statement of Financial Position are net of allowances for doubtful receivables, estimated by management based on past experience and an assessment of the current economic climate.

HM Land Registry’s bank balances are held with the Government Banking Service. In 2020-21, limited funds were retained within commercial banking facilities but these accounts are now closed.

The ‘Commercial banks and cash-in-hand’ balance includes ‘Cash in Transit’, with the associated bank accounts being in credit at year-end.

2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Trade receivables
Other receivables 5,197 1,845
Right-to-Use: Repayment in year (817)
Prepayments and accrued income 8,522 3,594
  12,902 12,902
Right-to-Use: Debtors 1,394
  14,296 5,439

The ‘Right-to-Use: Repayment in year’ is correctly included in the ‘Receivables’ note. This is because when the lessees make payment, this balance decreases, which is off-set against the ‘Right-to-Use: Debtors’, so these should be presented together to provide a complete understanding of the underlying transactions.

The average credit period taken on provision of services is 5.3 days (2020-21: 4.2 days). No interest is charged on the receivables.

Rents receivable are received and accounted for in advance of the occupancy period and the likelihood of non-collection of rents and credit risk exposure have both been determined as insignificant in terms of overall risk, with these assessments unchanged in light of the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).

12.2 Non-current

2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Right-to-Use debtors 2,608
Other receivables 64 128
Prepayments and accrued income 300 344
  2,972 472

The carrying amounts of trade and other receivables are deemed to be an approximation of their fair values.

13 Trade and other payables

13.1 Current

Notes 2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Trade payables   1,912 969
Taxation and social security   5,476 5,165
Other payables   5,154 4,859
Accruals   27,679 26,348
CFER Income due to the Consolidated Fund   309 377
Amounts issued from the Consolidated Fund for Supply but not spent at 31 March 11 30,905 23,097
    71,435 60,815*
Net obligations under finance leases - buildings 10 5,765 310
    77,200 61,125

The average credit period taken for trade purchases is 3.4 days (2020-21: 2.4 days). The carrying amounts of trade payables are deemed to be an approximation of their fair values.

13.2 Non-current

Notes 2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Net obligations under finance leases – buildings 10 68,404 3,699
    68,404 3,699

14 Provisions for liabilities and charges

14.1 Early release schemes and other

2021-22 Early retirement & other (£’000) 2020-21 Early retirement & other (£’000)
At 1 April 60 522
Provided in the year
Revaluation of provision (4)
Provision utilised in the year (7) (458)
Provision written back unused
At 31 March 53 60
Included in current liabilities 53 60
Included in non-current liabilities
  53 60

The early retirement provision (ERP) gives retirement benefits to certain employees. These benefits conform to the rules of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). HM Land Registry bears the cost of these benefits until the normal retirement age of the employees retired under the scheme. Total payments in the year amounted to £0.0m, and £0.5m had been provided for within the ERP provision in the 2021-22 accounts (2020-21: Payments £0.0m and Provision of £0.5m). The total pension liability up to normal retiring age in respect of each employee is charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income in the year in which the employee takes early retirement and a provision for future pension payments is created. Pension and related benefit payments to the retired employee until normal retiring age are then charged annually against the provision.

Other provisions relate to property closure and dilapidation costs.

14.2 Indemnity Fund

The Land Registration Act 2002 places a legal liability on HM Land Registry to indemnify for losses resulting from errors or omissions on the register of title. This includes errors resulting from frauds perpetrated by third parties. As a statutory insurer of titles in England and Wales, indemnity payments are not confined to mistakes made by HM Land Registry. HM Land Registry provides for these claims under its Indemnity Fund both for known claims and claims incurred but not reported (IBNR).

2021-22 2020-21
Outstanding Provision (£’000) IBNR Provision (£’000) Total (£’000) Outstanding Provision (£’000) IBNR Provision (£’000) Total (£’000)
At 1 April 7,700 62,900 70,600 6,500 66,700 73,200
Provided in the year 5,780 5,780 5,629 5,629
Provisions utilised in the year (5,780) (5,780) (5,629) (5,629)
Claims revaluation (100) (100) 1,200 1,200
IBNR revaluation (700) (700) (3,800) (3,800)
At 31 March 7,600 62,200 69,800 7,700 62,900 70,600

Following the actuarial review by the Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), the fund in respect of reported but not settled claims (Outstanding Provision) has decreased in 2021-22 by £0.1m (2020-21: £1.2m Increase). The provision for claims incurred but not reported (IBNR Provision) has decreased in 2020-21 by £0.7m (2020-21: £3.8m decrease).

The reason for the £0.1m decrease in outstanding claims is due to an increase in claims which is being offset by a reduction in claim settlement patterns, a reduction in the average cost per claim and a change in the HM Treasury discount rate.

The £0.7m IBNR Provision movement was as a result of higher projected claim numbers which is being offset by a reduction in claim settlement patterns and HM Treasury discount rate.

The Outstanding Provision for claims received but not yet settled is an estimate and as it involves projecting future payments, the final amounts paid on these claims is uncertain. The main uncertainties are:

  • the proportion of outstanding claims that will ultimately be paid;

  • the value of the payments made; and

  • the effect of any legal judgements.

The presence of large outstanding claims can add significantly to this uncertainty.

The IBNR Provision is greater and inherently more uncertain than the Outstanding Provision. Unlike the Outstanding Provision, which is based on existing claims information, the IBNR Provision covers potential claims that may be made as a result of errors that have already been introduced into the register as a result of day-to-day update activity (either through fraud and forgery or administrative error). The main uncertainties within the IBNR Provision are:

  • the number of unreported errors currently within the register is unknown;

  • at what point in the future these errors will be discovered and claims made; and

  • how much the cost of the corresponding claims will be.

Claims can take many years to be reported and subsequently settled.

In estimating the IBNR Provision, the actuary projects the number and timing of future claim reports and average claim sizes, using assumptions about claims settlement patterns, the expected effects of any known legal judgements and claims inflation. The resulting projected future claims cash flows are then discounted to a net present value at the accounting date using HM Treasury-prescribed discount rates.

The assumptions used in the projections are based on analysis of historical claims data, allowance for recent trends and consideration of the potential effects of underlying factors such as the volume of HM Land Registry activity and numbers of registered titles. We provide input to the actuaries on these assumptions, based on the knowledge of the legal team that handles the claims.

Uncertainty in the provisions – sensitivity analysis

The values of the Indemnity Fund Provisions are subject to future uncertain final settlement value, both for known claims and claims incurred but not reported (IBNR). The uncertainty in value of outstanding claims could lead to a variation in the proposed provision. A range of scenarios have been considered in respect of the assumptions on:

  • the proportion of claims that settle for zero;

  • the average claim size;

  • the HM Treasury prescribed discount rate;

  • the number of claims that will be received; and

  • the rate of inflation.

These scenarios have been considered in isolation and combination as shown in the sensitivity analysis table below.

On the basis of this analysis work:

  • it is reasonably foreseeable that the value of liabilities could be in the region of £7.6m (Outstanding Provision) or £62.2m (IBNR Provision); and

  • it is possible that in extreme favourable scenarios the value of liabilities could be as little as £7.3m (Outstanding Provision) and £42.9m (IBNR Provision).

We have also considered extreme adverse scenarios, where the value of liabilities is as much as £7.9m (Outstanding Provision) and £82.7m (IBNR Provision). The long-term open-ended nature of statutory indemnity means that these figures do not represent the maximum possible liability. However, we believe the likelihood of such scenarios to be small.

The degree of uncertainty at future accounting dates may be different from that illustrated here. This could be for a number of reasons, for example because the profile of claims has changed or because the outlook on future claim trends has changed.

At future accounting dates, it should be expected that:

  • the outstanding provision will fluctuate depending on the volume of claims reported at the time, especially large claims;

  • all else being equal, the IBNR Provision will increase over time because of inflationary forces; and

  • both the Outstanding Provision and the IBNR Provision will be particularly sensitive to the number and value of fraud and forgery claims as these are the most financially significant category of claims.

The Indemnity Fund Provision of £69.8m is a best estimate. Additionally, the future values of Indemnity Fund Provisions are subject to inherent uncertainties.

2021-22 Outstanding Provision Maximum (£m) 2021-22 Outstanding Provision Minimum (£m) 2021-22 Percentage movement (%)
Provided in these accounts (reasonably foreseeable value – see Note 14.2) 7.6 7.6 0%
Impact of scenarios Discount rate      
1. Increase Treasury prescribed discount rate by 0.5% pa (0.3)   –4%
2. Decrease Treasury prescribed discount rate by 0.5% pa   0.3 4%
Settlement costs      
3. Increase settlement costs for the first development year by 5% for error claims 0.5   6%
4. Decrease settlement costs for the first development year by 5% for error claims   (0.5) -6%
5. Increase settlement costs for the first development year by 5% for fraud claims 0.1   1%
6. Decrease settlement costs for the first development year by 5% for fraud claims   (0.1) -1%
Extreme favourable scenarios      
(2) + (4) + (6)   7.3  
Extreme adverse scenarios      
(1) + (3) + (5) 7.9    
2021-22 IBNR Provision maximum (£m) 2021-22 IBNR Provision minimum (£m) 2021-22 Percentage movement increase (%) 2021-22 Percentage movement decrease (%)
Provided in these accounts (reasonably foreseeable value – see Note 14.2) 62.2 62.2 0 0
Impact of scenarios        
Favourable but foreseeable scenarios        
Nil claims proportion        
1. Change the nil claims proportion for attritional claims by +/- 5% 2.5 (2.5) 4% –4%
2. Change the nil claims proportion for large claims by +/- 5% 1.9 (1.9) 3% –3%
Average cost per claim        
3. Change average cost per claim for attritional error claims by +/- 10% 2.5 (2.5) 4% -4%
4. Change average cost per claim for large error claims by +/- 10% 1.9 (1.9) 3% -3%
5. Change average cost per claim for attritional fraud claims by +/- 10% 0.6 (0.6) 1% -1%
6. Change average cost per claim for large fraud claims by +/- 10% 0.6 (0.6) 1% -1%
Discount rate        
7. Increase Treasury prescribed discount rate by 0.5% pa   (2.5)   -4%
8. Decrease Treasury prescribed discount rate by 0.5% pa 3.1   5%  
Projected number of IBNR claims        
9. Increase projected number of attritional IBNR claims by 10% for incident years since 2017/18 0.6   1%  
10. Decrease projected number of attritional IBNR claims by 10% for incident years since 2017/18   (0.6)   -1%
11. Increase projected number of large IBNR claims by 10% for incident years since 2017/18 0.6   1%  
12. Decrease projected number of large IBNR claims by 10% for incident years since 2017/18   (0.6)   -1%
Future claims inflation        
13. Increase assumed future claims inflation by 1% 6.2   10%  
14. Decrease assumed future claims inflation by 1%   (5.6)   -9%
Extreme favourable scenarios        
(1)+(2)+(3)+(4)+(5)+(6)+(7)+(10)+(12)+(14)   42.9    
Extreme adverse scenarios        
(1)+(2)+(3)+(4)+(5)+(6)+(8)+(9)+(11)+(13) 82.7      

15 Contingent liabilities

15.1 Indemnity

The Land Registration Act 2002 places a legal liability on HM Land Registry to indemnify for losses resulting from errors or omissions on the register of title. This includes errors resulting from frauds perpetrated by third parties. As a statutory insurer of titles in England and Wales, indemnity payments are not confined to mistakes made by HM Land Registry. HM Land Registry provides for these claims under its Indemnity Fund both for known claims and claims incurred but not reported (IBNR) (see Note 14.2) based upon the assumed likelihood that claims will be successful.

As at 31 March 2022, the value of pending indemnity claims made to HM Land Registry is shown below. The estimated settlement value of these claims included within the Indemnity Fund provision is £7.6m (see Note 14.2) (2020-21: £7.7m).

Errors or omissions 2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Mistakes 4,442 9,903
Fraud and forgery 14,576 16,267
  19,018 26,170

15.2 Employment tribunals

At 31 March 2022, HM Land Registry had no employment tribunal cases, which are considered contingent liabilities.

16 Capital commitments

2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Capital expenditure 14,571 55
Contracted for but not provided in these accounts 14,571 55

The increase in capital commitments in 2021-22 is driven by the acceleration of HM Land Registry’s Local Land Charges (LLC) Programme. This programme is part of Government’s Major Projects Portfolio, for which HM Land Registry receives ring-fenced funding. HM Land Registry has included in its’ capital commitments included within contracts signed before 31 March 2022, which are not already reflected within other notes to these accounts. HMLR Government Major Projects Portfolio data, 2021

Programmes 2020-21 (£’000)
Local Land Charges 13,719
Corporate Services 852
  14,571

In accordance with IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures, as interpreted by the FReM, the following information is provided on related party transactions.

During 2021-22, HM Land Registry had a number of material transactions with other government departments and other central government bodies. Most of these transactions have been with Ordnance Survey, HM Courts and Tribunals and the Government Property Agency.

None of the Board Members, or members of the key management staff or other related parties, have undertaken any material transactions with HM Land Registry during the year.

The Remuneration Report provides information on key management compensation.

18 Events after the reporting period

In accordance with the requirements of IAS 10 Events After the Reporting Period, events after the Statement of Financial Position date are considered up to the date on which the financial statements are authorised for issue. This is interpreted as the date of the certificate and report of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

HM Land Registry Trust Statement 2021-22

Statement of Accounting Officer’s responsibilities

Under the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921, HM Treasury has directed HM Land Registry to prepare, for each financial year, a Trust Statement (“the Statement”) in the form and on the basis set out in the Accounts Direction. The Statement is to be prepared on an accruals basis and must give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the fees and charges, and of the related expenditure and cash flows for the financial year.

In preparing the accounts and trust statement, the Accounting Officer is required to comply with the requirements of the Government Financial Reporting Manual and in particular to:

  • observe the Accounts Direction issued by HM Treasury, including the relevant accounting and disclosure requirements, and apply suitable accounting policies on a consistent basis;

  • make judgements and estimates on a reasonable basis;

  • state whether applicable accounting standards as set out in the Government Financial Reporting Manual have been followed, and disclose and explain any material departures in the accounts;

  • prepare the accounts on a going concern basis; and

  • confirm that the Annual Report and Accounts as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and take personal responsibility for the Annual Report and Accounts and the judgements required for determining that it is fair, balanced and understandable.

The Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury has appointed the Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar as Accounting Officer of HM Land Registry. The responsibilities of an Accounting Officer, including responsibility for the propriety and regularity of the public finances for which the Accounting Officer is answerable, for keeping proper records and for safeguarding the HM Land Registry’s assets, are set out in Managing Public Money published by HM Treasury.

As the Accounting Officer, I have taken all the steps that I ought to have taken to make myself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that HM Land Registry’s auditors are aware of that information. So far as I am aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the auditors are unaware.

Governance Statement

As the Accounting Officer for HM Land Registry I have responsibility for maintaining corporate governance structures that support the achievement of HM Land Registry’s aims, objectives and targets, while safeguarding public funds and HM Land Registry’s assets. HM Land Registry operates and follows the principles of good governance in accordance with HM Treasury guidance. The Governance Statement, which covers all aspects of HM Land Registry, including those reported here in this Trust Statement, is provided in the Accountability report.

Simon Hayes
Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar
8 July 2022

The Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to The House of Commons

Opinion on financial statements

I certify that I have audited the financial statements of HM Land Registry Trust Statement for the year ended 31 March 2022 under the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

The financial statements comprise HM Land Registry’s:

  • Statement of Financial Position as at 31 March 2022;

  • Statement of Revenue, Other Income and Expenditure and the Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended; and

  • the related notes including the significant accounting policies.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the financial statements is applicable law and UK adopted International Accounting Standards.

In my opinion, the financial statements:

  • give a true and fair view of the state of HM Land Registry’s affairs as at 31 March 2022 and its net revenue for the year then ended; and

  • have been properly prepared in accordance with the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921 and HM Treasury directions issued thereunder.

Opinion on regularity

In my opinion, in all material respects, the income and expenditure recorded in the financial statements have been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament and the financial transactions recorded in the financial statements conform to the authorities which govern them.

Basis for opinions

I conducted my audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs UK), applicable law and Practice Note 10 Audit of Financial Statements of Public Sector Entities in the United Kingdom. My responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of my certificate.

Those standards require me and my staff to comply with the Financial Reporting Council’s Revised Ethical Standard 2019. I have also elected to apply the ethical standards relevant to listed entities. I am independent of HM Land Registry in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to my audit of the financial statements in the UK. My staff and I have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.

I believe that the audit evidence I have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for my opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, I have concluded that HM Land Registry’s use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work I have performed, I have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on HM Land Registry’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

My responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Accounting Officer with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this certificate.

The going concern basis of accounting for HM Land Registry is adopted in consideration of the requirements set out in HM Treasury’s Government Financial Reporting Manual, which require entities to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements where it anticipated that the services which they provide will continue into the future.

Other Information

The other information comprises information included in the Annual Report but does not include the financial statements nor my auditor’s certificate and report. The Accounting Officer is responsible for the other information.

My opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in my certificate, I do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with my audit of the financial statements, my responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or my knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

If I identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, I am required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work I have performed, I conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, I am required to report that fact.

I have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinion on other matters

In my opinion the part of the Remuneration and Staff Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with HM Treasury directions issued under the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

In my opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

  • the parts of the Accountability Report subject to audit have been properly prepared in accordance with HM Treasury directions made under the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

  • the information given in the Performance and Accountability Reports for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements and is in accordance with the applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which I report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of HM Land Registry and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, I have not identified material misstatements in the Performance and Accountability Report.

I have nothing to report in respect of the following matters which I report to you if, in my opinion:

  • I have not received all of the information and explanations I require for my audit; or

  • adequate accounting records have not been kept by HM Land Registry or returns adequate for my audit have not been received from branches not visited by my staff; or

  • he financial statements and the parts of the Accountability Report subject to audit are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

  • certain disclosures of remuneration specified by HM Treasury’s Government Financial Reporting Manual have not been made or parts of the Remuneration and Staff Report to be audited is not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

  • the Governance Statement does not reflect compliance with HM Treasury’s guidance.

Responsibilities of the Accounting Officer for the financial statements

As explained more fully in the Statement of Accounting Officer’s Responsibilities , the Accounting Officer is responsible for:

  • maintaining proper accounting records;

  • the preparation of the financial statements and Annual Report in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view;

  • ensuring that the Annual Report and accounts as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable;

  • internal controls as the Accounting Officer determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statement to be free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; and

  • assessing HM Land Registry’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

My responsibility is to audit, certify and report on the financial statements in accordance with the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

My objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a certificate that includes my opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting non-compliance with laws and regulations including fraud

I design procedures in line with my responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud. The extent to which my procedures are capable of detecting non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud is detailed below.

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, we considered the following:

  • the nature of the sector, control environment and operational performance including the design of HM Land Registry’s accounting policies.
  • Inquiring of management, HM Land Registry’s head of internal audit and those charged with governance, including obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation relating to the HM Land Registry’s policies and procedures relating to:

  • identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance;

  • detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and

  • the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations including HM Land Registry’s controls relating to HM Land Registry’s compliance with Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921 and Managing Public Money.

  • discussing among the engagement team regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud.

As a result of these procedures, I considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within HM Land Registry for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas: revenue recognition, posting of unusual journals, complex transactions and bias in management estimates. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), I am also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override of controls.

I also obtained an understanding of HM Land Registry’s framework of authority as well as other legal and regulatory frameworks in which HM Land Registry operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of HM Land Registry. The key laws and regulations I considered in this context included Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921, Managing Public Money, the Land Registration Act 2002, the Land Registration Rules 2003, the Agricultural Credits Act 1928 and the Land Charges Act 1972 and any relevant employment law, pensions legislation and tax Legislation.

Audit response to identified risk

As a result of performing the above, the procedures I implemented to respond to identified risks included the following:

  • reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described above as having direct effect on the financial statements;

  • enquiring of management, the Audit and Risk Committee and in-house legal counsel concerning actual and potential litigation and claims;

  • reading and reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance and the Board and internal audit reports; and

  • in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.

I also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

A further description of my responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website. This description forms part of my certificate.

Other auditor’s responsibilities

I am required to obtain evidence sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the income and expenditure reported in the financial statements have been applied to the purposes intended by Parliament and the financial transactions conform to the authorities which govern them.

I communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that I identify during my audit.

Report

I have no observations to make on these financial statements.

Gareth Davies 11 July 2022
Comptroller and Auditor General
National Audit Office
157-197 Buckingham Palace Road
Victoria
London
SW1W 9SP

Trust statement Financial statements

Statement of Revenue, Other Income and Expenditure as at 31 March 2022

Note 2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
#Fees and Charges revenue      
Registration of title 2 307,023 226,042
Land Charges and Agricultural Credits 2 7,279 6,269
Local Land Charges 2 408 225
Total Fees and Charges revenue   314,710 232,536
Commercial Income      
Income from commercial activities 2 4,219 3,857
Total Commercial Income   4,219 3,857
Total revenue and other income   318,929 236,393
Expenditure      
Other debts written off 3.3 (52) (22)
Bad debts written off 3.3 4 (12)
Total expenditure   (48) (34)
Net revenue for the Consolidated Fund 5 318,881 236,359

There were no recognised gains or losses accounted for outside the above Statement of Revenue, Other Income and Expenditure.

The notes form part of this statement.

Statement of Financial Position at 31 March 2022

Note 2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Receivables falling due within one year      
Current assets      
Other receivables 3.1 3,073 1,361
Cash and cash equivalents   152,909 100,508
Total current assets   155,982 101,869
Current liabilities      
Payables 4.1
Deferred revenue 4.1 148,402 96,998
Total current liabilities   148,402 96,998
Net current assets   7,580 4,871
Total net assets   7,580 4,871
Represented by:      
Balance on Consolidated Fund Account 5 7,580 4,871

The notes form part of this statement.

Simon Hayes
Chief Land Registrar and Chief Executive
8 July 2022

Statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 March 2022

Note 2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Net cash flow from operating activities A 368,574 287,980
Cash paid to the Consolidated Fund 5 (316,173) (207,566)
Increase/ (decrease) in cash in this period   52,401 80,414
Notes to Cash Flow Statement      
A: Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds      
Net revenue for the Consolidated Fund SoCNE 318,881 236,359
(Increase)/ decrease in receivables 3.1 (1,711) 1,513
Increase/ (decrease) in liabilities 4.1 51,404 50,108
Increase/ (decrease) in provisions for liabilities  
Net cash flow from operating activities   368,574 287,980
B: Analysis of changes in net funds      
Increase/ (decrease) in cash in this period   52,401 80,414
Net funds at 1 April (Net Cash at Bank)   100,508 20,094
Net funds at 31 March (Closing Balance)   152,909 100,508
The following balances as at 31 March were held at:      
Government Banking Service   152,909 100,508
Balance at 31 March   152,909 100,508

The notes form part of this statement.

Notes to the Trust Statement

1. Statement of Accounting Policies

1.1 Basis of accounting

The Trust Statement is prepared in accordance with:

  • the 2021-22 Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) issued by HM Treasury, in particular Chapter 8.2 which deals with Consolidated Fund revenue and Trust Statements. The accounting policies contained in the FReM apply International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as interpreted for the public sector; and

  • the accounts direction issued by HM Treasury under section 2 (3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

The accounting policies adopted in the Trust Statement are described below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items considered material in relation to the accounts.

The income and associated expenditure contained in these statements are those flows of funds which HM Land Registry handles on behalf of the Consolidated Fund and where it is acting as agent rather than principal.

The financial information contained in these statements and in the notes is rounded to the nearest ‘£000.

1.2 Changes in accounting policy and disclosures

There have been no changes in accounting policies for the reporting period. New standards, amendments and interpretations issued but not effective for the financial year beginning 1 April 2021 and not early adopted:

  • IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts will become effective from 1 January 2023 for public sector organisations. This reporting standard is anticipated to have no accounting impact upon HM Land Registry as no such insurance contracts are held.
1.3 Accounting convention

The Trust Statement has been prepared under the historical cost convention. The preparation of the accounts in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates (see Note 1.6). It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the accounting policies.

1.4 Revenue recognition

Fees and charges are measured at the fair value of amounts received and in accordance with IFRS 15. Fees and charges are derived from the Land Registration Fee Order 2013 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ uksi/2013/3174/made). They are included within the financial statements of the financial year in which the service is delivered. Income is recognised net of any refunds for transactions that are not completed, or on transactions where erroneous information is provided by customers.

Registration of title and Land Charges and Agricultural Credits income is recognised upon receipt of a completed application. If an application is not complete, the amount received is treated as a fee in advance, regardless of application type. All application types are accounted for consistently. The associated payment amounts received for services not delivered in the financial year reported are subsequently recorded as contract liabilities and disclosed within current liabilities.

Income is recognised once the contract performance obligation under IFRS 15 has been fulfilled, that is once the register has been fully updated following receipt of an application.

1.5 Receivables

Receivables are shown net of impairments in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 9. Receivables are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows from the assets have expired.

1.6 Critical accounting judgements and estimates

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. When preparing the Trust Statement, HM Land Registry makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The most significant judgement area in the preparation of this Trust Statement relates to revenue recognition and the calculation of the deferred revenue balance, which requires a judgement on the percentage of work complete for outstanding applications. Further details on revenue recognition are contained in Note 1.4.

1.7 Impairment of debt and credit losses

Receivables are shown net of impairments in accordance with the requirements of the FReM and IFRS 9. The fair value of receivables is determined by making an impairment to reduce the carrying value of receivables to the estimated future flow of repayments.

HM Land Registry is not exposed to credit risk under IFRS 7 Financial Instruments.

1.8 Miscellaneous Consolidated Fund Extra Receipts (CFER) Income

In accordance with Managing Public Money, HM Treasury has powers to direct that income included in a departmental Estimate and approved by Parliament may be retained and used by the department. This is undertaken by applying this income against specific costs (resource or capital) within that Estimate. Where HM Land Registry receives income outside that authority, the cash must be surrendered to the Consolidated Fund.

2. Revenue and other income

2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Fees and charges    
Registration of title 307,023 226,042
Land Charges and Agricultural Credits 7,279 6,269
Local Land Charges 408 225
Total fees and charges 314,710 232,536
Commercial Income    
Income from commercial activities 4,219 3,857
Total Commercial Income 4,219 3,857
Total Revenue and Other Income 318,929 236,393

3. Receivables

3.1 Current receivables

2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Receivables 3,078 1,373
Provision for doubtful debt (5) (12)
Receivable before impairment 3,073 1,361
less estimated impairments
Total receivables as at 31 March 3,073 1,361

Receivables represents the amount due from taxpayers and businesses where invoices or other demands for payment have been issued but not paid for at 31 March 2022. Debts are written off only when the debtor is dissolved, bankrupt or in liquidation and the debt is deemed unrecoverable through any further means.

Individual application receipts are only processed once the relevant fee has been accounted for. The total collectable is spread over a high volume of different customers with associated low-value fees. Accordingly, the likelihood of non-collection of fees and credit risk exposure have both been determined as insignificant in terms of overall risk, with these assessments unchanged in light of the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).

3.2 Non current receivables

There are no amounts falling due after more than one year.

3.3 Credit losses

Note 2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Other debts written off   (52) (22)
Bad debt written off   4
Total   (48) (22)

4. Payables and deferred revenue

4.1 Current payables

2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Payables
Deferred revenue 148,402 96,998
Total payables and deferred revenue at 31 March 148,402 96,998

Payables are the amounts established as due at the balance sheet date, but where payment is made subsequently. Deferred revenue includes income for fees paid in the current year that relate to future financial periods.

4.2 Non-current payables

There are no amounts falling due after more than one year.

5. Balance on the Consolidated Fund Account

Note 2021-22 (£’000) 2020-21 (£’000)
Balance on Consolidated Fund as at 1 April   4,872 (23,921)
Net revenue for the Consolidated Fund SOCNE 318,881 236,359
Less amount paid to the Consolidated Fund   (316,173) (207,566)
Balance on Consolidated Fund Account as at 31 March   7,580 4,872

In accordance with IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures, as interpreted by the FReM, the following information is provided on related party transactions.

None of the Board Members, or members of the key management staff or other related parties, have undertaken any material transactions with HM Land Registry during the year.

The Remuneration Report provides information on key management compensation.

7. Events after the reporting period

In accordance with the requirements of IAS 10 Events after the Reporting Period, post year end events are considered up to the date on which the accounts are authorised for issue. This is interpreted as the date of the Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The accounts do not reflect events after this date.

There are no subsequent events to report.