FOI release: Losses and special payments

Published: 07 March 2022
Freedom of information class: What we spend and how

Information request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA)

Freedom of Information (FOI) reference: CW-2022-022
Date received: 24 January 2022
Date clarified: 1 February 2022
Date responded: 24 February 2022

Information requested

You asked for an information request relating to losses and special payments.  Include the information for each of the following periods:

  • 2018 to 2019
  • 2019 to 2020
  • 2020 to 2021

For each year include:

  • the total number of cases of losses in each year
  • the total cost of losses in each year
  • an itemisation of each loss including what it was for and how much it cost
  • the total number of special payments in each year
  • the total value of special payments in each year
  • an itemisation of each special payment including what it was for and how much it cost

You clarified that this related to losses and special payments information according to the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM).

Response

You can download a copy of the information you requested for each year (xlsx, 60KB).

In addition to losses and special payments conform to the SPFM manual we have included statutory compensation payments made in satisfaction of our legal obligations to pay compensation conform to the provisions of the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012. Claimants are eligible to claim compensation where the provisions of the 2012 Act are met.

Compensation schemes are a common feature among land registration systems around the world. The protections offered by these state-backed schemes operate to foster confidence in the register which in turn delivers wider economic benefits.  The right to property is protected by Article 1 of Protocol no. 1 to the European Convention of Human Rights and the provision by Registers of Scotland of safe, secure and efficient property transactions contributes to the Scottish Government’s national outcome of having a globally economy that is:

  • competitive
  • entrepreneurial
  • inclusive
  • sustainable

The compensation scheme provided by the 2012 Act therefore does not necessitate fault or maladministration on behalf of Registers of Scotland or the parties involved before a payment is awarded.

In relation to write offs, further explanation regarding reasons provided for certain payments is in thIs table.

Write off reason Further information
Company ceased trading Firm ceases to trade (RoS may recover some of this years later from administrators).
Not common viable Not economically viable to continue to chase (small value debts for example, where the customer accounts are closed in these instances)
8888 write offs Non account customers with small value customer debts that are not economically viable to pursue. These are written off monthly.

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Contact

If you have a question or query about FOI requests, you can email the information governance team at:FOI.Requests@ros.gov.uk.