NFU Scotland is urging its members to get involved in the debate on Scottish Government’s land reform consultation and how the wide-ranging proposals it contains could impact farmers and crofters.
The Scottish Government consultation, launched ahead of introducing a Land Reform Bill, closes in September, and includes:
- proposals related to concentration of land ownership and defining ‘large-scale’ holdings
- strengthening land rights and responsibilities (LRRS)
- compulsory land management plans for ‘large-scale’ land owners
- public interest tests and conditions of sale for large-scale land transactions
- conditions for receipt of public funding
- transparency of land ownership
The Union is hosting a webinar on Thursday 11 August at 7.00pm when Gemma Cooper, NFUS Head of Policy Team and Alasdair Macnab, NFUS Legal and Technical Chair, will explain the proposals. Members can sign up via this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dCaj0obZQ9CeKmHcDKsLiw
Three follow up regional meetings are being planned and NFUS members can also engage with this consultation online via the following survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BQXKTMT
Mr Macnab said: “Scottish Government is committed to an ongoing program of land reform in Scotland. Land reform is anything to do with ownership, management, and use of land in Scotland, so these proposals will affect all farmers and crofters.
“Scottish Government is consulting on scale of land ownership, compulsory land management plans for some landowners, conditions on sale of land and linking public subsidy and information to accountability for landowners.
“This aim of the webinar is to inform and help members understand what the consultation is about so that they can provide their views at the forthcoming regional member meetings or via the NFUS online survey. Members’ views are needed as they will shape the NFUS policy response to this Land Reform consultation.”
