Registers of Scotland (RoS) has today published the results and analysis of public response to its recent consultation on ‘Digital Transformation: Next Steps’.

The consultation, published on 30 November 2016, outlined RoS’ wider digital objectives, as well as setting out proposals for the introduction of three new digital services (discharges, securities and dispositions) as part of our commitment to opening up the Land Register to digital deeds and providing our customers with faster, better and more secure digital services.

We are pleased that the reaction to our proposals were overwhelmingly positive. Both the written responses to the consultation, and face to face discussions at a series of consultation events, attended by 180 people, provided us with helpful and insightful feedback. We will use the feedback to assist us as we roll out our new services to become a fully digital business by 2020.

The new Digital Discharge Service (DDS) is already proving a success in its ‘advanced beta’ stage. RoS has been working to develop the service in conjunction with a number of lenders and solicitors, and DDS is already in the process of being rolled out to a wider range of lenders and solicitors. This will be followed by the new digital securities service later this year and digital dispositions in 2018.

We will continue to work closely with our customers and stakeholders in developing these new services – including simplifying and streamlining the paper application form for registration – as we strive to deliver even better services for our customers.

Sheenagh Adams, the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, said “These are exciting times for RoS. We have already made considerable progress in the digital transformation of our business, such as developing a new electronic service for advance notices. The three new digital services that we are developing as part of our digital consultation – discharges, securities and dispositions – mean that the vast majority of deeds will soon be submitted and processed digitally. By 2020, our vision of becoming a fully digital business will be a reality – providing our customers and the wider Scottish economy with the best possible registration services.”