09.30

Registration and Coffee

Morning Session

10.00

Chairman’s welcome and introduction
Fiona Hoyle, Chairman, Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO)

10.10

The Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations: A new era of improved access to public sector data or half-hearted reforms?

• What do the regulations require of public sector bodies?
• How should search companies apply for the information?
• What happens when applications for data are refused?
• How can the search industry share information on best practice?

David Worlock, Chairman, Electronic Publishing Services Limited

10.40

Promoting Competition
An overview of the OFT’s Market Studies and recommendations.
Cavendish Elithorn, Office of Fair Trading

11.00

What impact will the OFT’s recommendations have in practice for the search industry?
Ronnie Park, Chief Executive, One Search Direct

11.25

Networking break

11.50

Home Information Packs: Finalising the content and the dry run

• What information must be included in the HIP (including searches), who can provide it and on what terms?
• How will the HIPs dry run planned for mid-2006 operate and how can search companies participate?

Denis Purshouse, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

12.20

Electronic Delivery of Searches: Removing the barriers

• The Connect Direct Project with HM Land Registry providing direct access to Land Registry information for search companies on a similar basis to that currently available to the NLIS channels
• The PISCES Project creating a single standard for requesting and receiving search results, enhancing the speed in which search information can be provided.

Steven Foster, Chief Executive, Search Choice Ltd

12.45

Questions to the morning panel

12.55

Buffet Lunch

Afternoon Session

Chairman: James Sherwood-Rogers, Managing Director, Legal and Financial, Landmark Information Group

1.45

Improving Standards across the Search Industry

• An outline of the Search Industry Accreditation Scheme
• Interaction with Home Information Packs and who can provide searches
• What will search companies need to do to prepare for the scheme?
• Implementation

Fiona Hoyle, Chairman, CoPSO

2.15

The Future Shape of the Search Industry: Seizing the Opportunities
Mark Jarvis, Business Manager, Severn Trent Searches

2.45

Questions to the afternoon panel

3.00

Close of Conference and Chairman’s summing up

Conference:

This one-day conference uniquely brings together the property search industry, the major stakeholders and Government for the first time to focus on the key issues which will directly affect both the future structure of the industry and those organisations operating within it.

Delegate Profile:

CEOs and executives within search companies, mortgage lenders, residential conveyancers and HIP providers.

Content:

• What search information will be included in the HIP, who can provide it and on what terms?

• What changes will happen within the search industry following the OFT’s market study?

• Will the Public Sector Information reforms improve access to information for search companies?

• Outline of the Search Industry Accreditation Scheme improving standards across the sector

• Update on recent search initiatives

• The future shape of the property search industry

Benefits:

• Hear from industry experts about the changes affecting the search industry and how they interact with the other aspects of the homebuying process

• Identify how these changes will impact on your business in the short and long-term

• Obtain a better understanding of the new environment and how you can prepare for it

Cost:

By invitation only

Location:

Prince’s Room, BMA House, Tavistock Square,
London WC1

Sessions:

All day 10am to 3pm (70 seats)

Contact:

info@copso.org.uk