Briefing for the Stage 1 debate on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

This briefing has been produced for MSPs ahead of the Stage 1 debate on the Land Reform Bill, it sets out our proposals for how to improve the legislation as well as our reflections on the Stage 1 report from the Net Zero, Energy and Transport (NZET) Committee.

We welcome the Stage 1 report on the Land Reform Bill from the Committee which highlights significant areas of weakness within the draft legislation and several important ways in which the legislation will not meet its stated policy objectives, as things stand. Our chief concern with the Bill as drafted is that it does not seriously address the question of land ownership diversification in Scotland and offers limited influence on the issue of lesser significance, land use and management.

We agree with the Committee’s conclusion that the principles of the Bill should be supported but that significant amendment is needed for the Bill to deliver the policy outcomes of more diversified ownership and greater transparency over land management and ownership.