Royal assent for Land Reform Act

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 received royal assent on Friday 22 April.

The bill was presented to the Queen despite a plea from the organisation representing Scotland's landed estate owners that certain provisions relating to agricultural tenants' rights be referred to the UK Supreme Court for a ruling on whether they are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (click here for report).

Scottish Land & Estates said it had received legal advice that the assignation of tenancies covered by the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991 to new secure tenancies, and the widening of succession rights to secure tenancies, damaged property rights and contravened the Convention.

However if it wants to pursue its challenge it will now have to institute judicial review proceedings in the Scottish courts.