(1)There shall continue to be a land registry in Northern Ireland which shall be called “the Land Registry” .
Subs.(2) rep. by 1992 NI 7
(3)The provisions of Schedule 1 shall apply in relation to the appointment of officials and other staff of the Land Registry, the functions of such officials and staff and to the official seals[F1 used or] to be used in the Land Registry.
(4)The[F1 Land Registry] shall be the office for registration of the ownership of all land in Northern Ireland and, subject to Schedule 1, shall be under the control and management of an officer who shall be called the Registrar of Titles (in this Act referred to as “the Registrar” ).
Subs.(5) rep. by 1992 NI 7
(1)The Registrar may, by summons under the seal of the[F2 Land Registry] require the attendance of any person whom he may consider to be necessary, in connection with any matter relating to registration under this Act, for examination under this section and may, by like summons, require any person to produce for his inspection any document in his custody or under his control relating to that matter[F2 (and may do so notwithstanding that any such document is subject to a lien)].
(2)The Registrar may, by like summons, require any person having the custody of any map, survey, record or book made or kept in pursuance of any statutory provision to produce the map, survey, record or book for his inspection.
(3)The Registrar may examine on oath or otherwise any person appearing before him, and may accordingly administer an oath.
(4)The Registrar may allow to any person summoned by him pursuant to subsection (1) or (2) the reasonable expenses of his attendance.
(5)Any expenses allowed pursuant to subsection (4) shall be deemed to be costs incurred in or about proceedings for registration, and may be dealt with in such manner as may be prescribed.
(6)If any person, after being served with a summons under subsection (1) or (2), or with a copy thereof, and after having had tender made to him of the travelling and subsistence expenses, if any, to which he is entitled, wilfully neglects or refuses—
(a)to attend, or to produce any document, in pursuance of the summons under subsection (1); or
(b)to produce any map, survey, record or book which he may be required to produce pursuant to the summons under subsection (2); or
(c)to answer on oath or otherwise any questions lawfully put to him by the Registrar;
he shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding[F3 level 3 on the standard scale].
The person who is registrar shall not, nor shall any assistant registrar or other officer or person appointed under paragraph 5 of Schedule 1, be liable to any action, suit or proceedings for or in respect of any act or matter done or omitted to be done in good faith in the exercise, or purported exercise, of the functions conferred under this Act or any other statutory provision on the Registrar, the Land Registry, any assistant registrar or any officer or person appointed for the service of the Land Registry.]