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Meeting of the Parliament 05 June 2013

05 Jun 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Land Reform

Baker, Claire Lab Mid Scotland and Fife Watch on SPTV

I apologise, but I am really pushed for time in this short debate.

The Government’s amendment highlights the group’s independence. However, although it is independent, the LRRG was established by the Scottish Government, which appointed its members. With only one original member left and the group now losing the confidence of stakeholders, the Government needs to be clear about how it plans to retrieve the project, how seriously it takes the group and what the expectations are.

We can compare the LRRG with the Sewel group that was established in 1997, which had 10 members, a heavyweight group of experts, clear objectives and political direction. In contrast, the LRRG has lacked political direction and the group’s experience and knowledge have narrowed since it was established. There has also been a degree of naivety in the group’s approach: the number of visits to estates has not gone unnoticed. There has been an active campaign by landowners, who often see any discussion of land reform as a threat.

Of course, landowners are entitled to contribute to the debate, and I welcome their contribution, but it is not the group’s job to hear those who shout loudest or who are best resourced. A lot of consultations are going on at once, and the narrowing of the focus raises concerns about cohesion on the land reform agenda.

I acknowledge the group’s work. The decision to focus on community land issues is an opportunity, and Labour urges the group to be bold and to make proposals to expand community ownership options, including the right to buy in cases when there is not a willing seller but acquiring the land can be shown to be in the public interest. I know that the First Minister is to address Community Land Scotland’s annual general meeting soon. If the Parliament agrees to the motion, what better demonstration of radical and bold policy could there be than if the First Minister were to support the policy, so that progress can be made in Parliament?

We need to move the debate forward. We need a refocused LRRG and clear political direction. We have the powers to make the change. I hope that the Parliament will today affirm a commitment to radical and bold reform and that we will start to demonstrate that commitment.

I move,

That the Parliament notes the publication of the Land Reform Review Group’s interim report; recognises that the Land Reform Review Group was appointed by the Scottish Government to offer a “radical review of land reform”; believes that ownership of land is an economic and social issue; recognises that the Scottish Government has the power to deliver further land reform now; supports greater diversification of land ownership in Scotland, and calls on the Scottish Government to demonstrate a commitment to radical and bold land reform.

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Meeting of the Parliament 05 June 2013

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