Land reform stage 1 evidence due by mid-August
People with an interest in the Scottish Government's Land Reform Bill have less than seven weeks in which to put their views to the Holyrood Committee in charge of the bill.
The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs, Climate Change & Environment (RACCE) Committee issued its call for evidence at stage 1 of the bill on Friday, with a deadline for submissions of 14 August 2015.
The bill will create a Scottish Land Commission whose members will be tasked with reviewing and recommending changes to law and policy to support strategic aims to be approved by ministers. It promotes community interests, providing a right to buy land to further sustainable development, and makes extensive changes regarding agricultural tenancies. There are also provisions covering deer management, rights of access and an end to business rates exemption for shooting and deerstalking estates.
Committee convener Rob Gibson MSP commented: "We hope to hear views and opinions from across the country on the fundamental and important issue of how Scotland’s land should be owned and managed to benefit us all. It’s crucial that the valuable knowledge, experience and expertise of everyone in Scotland with a vested interest in our land’s future feed into our work where possible.”
He continued: "Whilst some have sought to characterise this as a polarising debate, we already have areas which have attracted support from all sectors, such as the completion of the Land Register.
"We want to hear the full range of views on all aspects of the bill, but as we take forward the process it is important that the debate is conducted from all sides in a measured, constructive and respectful way. That is what the committee expects and wants."
The committee will produce a report on its scrutiny of the bill by the end of the year.