Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 05 June 2013
05 Jun 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Land Reform
Four hundred and thirty-two people own half of Scotland. Nowhere else in the European Union or, indeed, the rest of the world is land ownership so skewed to benefit so few.
Land ownership is an economic lever that can make a huge difference in the hands of the community. We have seen buyouts that have transformed communities such as those of Gigha, Uist, Harris and many more. They are not without their problems and squabbles, but they promote economic and social development.
Distant landowners can be a dead hand over communities. Many tenants and crofters do not know who their landlord is—it is just some faceless company. The Land Registration etc (Scotland) Bill provided an opportunity to register beneficial ownership but the Scottish Government squandered it. The UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee is taking up the challenge with the support of the UK Government, which was given in an answer to Ian Davidson MP recently. The Scottish Affairs Committee also led the charge on the ownership of lands by the Crown Estate—a fact that Rob Gibson did not acknowledge. We must ensure that landlords are accountable and work with communities. Where they do not, the community must be able to buy.
Alex Fergusson asked about our motion. The Scottish Government’s rhetoric suggests that it believes in land reform, but its actions say something entirely different. It set up a land reform review group, but I understand that that has now become the community ownership review group. It says that it is no longer looking at the issues of tenant farmers, the Crown Estate, inheritance and a load of other issues that impact on our communities. That appears to be at odds with what the minister said earlier.
What is the direction of travel? We have had an interim report that lacks detail and direction. If the Scottish Government is committed to the issue, it must take responsibility. Jim Hunter, who was previously a member of the group, said this week that the cabinet secretary should be leading on that work.
I had hoped that the interim report would produce proposals and a clear and radical agenda. Let us take, for example, community buyouts. Everyone knows that legislative changes are needed to make hostile buyouts possible. Pairc estate in Lewis has shown that the legislation does not work. A solution to that could have been in the interim report. That would have been a great start, but nothing was forthcoming. The minister says that the issue will be looked at in phase 2, but surely it should have been in the first report.
Land ownership is an economic lever that can make a huge difference in the hands of the community. We have seen buyouts that have transformed communities such as those of Gigha, Uist, Harris and many more. They are not without their problems and squabbles, but they promote economic and social development.
Distant landowners can be a dead hand over communities. Many tenants and crofters do not know who their landlord is—it is just some faceless company. The Land Registration etc (Scotland) Bill provided an opportunity to register beneficial ownership but the Scottish Government squandered it. The UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee is taking up the challenge with the support of the UK Government, which was given in an answer to Ian Davidson MP recently. The Scottish Affairs Committee also led the charge on the ownership of lands by the Crown Estate—a fact that Rob Gibson did not acknowledge. We must ensure that landlords are accountable and work with communities. Where they do not, the community must be able to buy.
Alex Fergusson asked about our motion. The Scottish Government’s rhetoric suggests that it believes in land reform, but its actions say something entirely different. It set up a land reform review group, but I understand that that has now become the community ownership review group. It says that it is no longer looking at the issues of tenant farmers, the Crown Estate, inheritance and a load of other issues that impact on our communities. That appears to be at odds with what the minister said earlier.
What is the direction of travel? We have had an interim report that lacks detail and direction. If the Scottish Government is committed to the issue, it must take responsibility. Jim Hunter, who was previously a member of the group, said this week that the cabinet secretary should be leading on that work.
I had hoped that the interim report would produce proposals and a clear and radical agenda. Let us take, for example, community buyouts. Everyone knows that legislative changes are needed to make hostile buyouts possible. Pairc estate in Lewis has shown that the legislation does not work. A solution to that could have been in the interim report. That would have been a great start, but nothing was forthcoming. The minister says that the issue will be looked at in phase 2, but surely it should have been in the first report.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-06845, in the name of Claire Baker, on land reform.14:40
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to open this debate on land reform, which has been brought forward by Scottish Labour.Under devolution, a Labour-led Executive introduced the fi...
Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
SNP
I hope that our respective parties can stay united on the need for further land reform, as we will otherwise play into the hands of those who resist change. ...
Claire Baker
Lab
To be honest, I am disappointed by that intervention, because I thought that we agreed on the need for radical land reform. The member will know how difficul...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
Does the member accept that considerable work is going on, particularly through the tenant farming forum, to look at land tenancy issues? Does she accept tha...
Claire Baker
Lab
I do not accept that, and I will comment on the forum. Until the publication of the report last week, tenant farming was to be part of the review. However, t...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Claire Baker
Lab
I am sorry, but I am really pushed for time and I want to make a few further points.The review that the Scottish Government proposes looks pretty narrow: it ...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Claire Baker
Lab
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 ind...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I inform members that we are tight for time and that the allocated speaking times must be adhered to.14:51
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change (Paul Wheelhouse)
SNP
I am delighted to lead in the debate for the Scottish Government and I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss such an important subject. As Claire Baker ...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Does the minister agree that, although community ownership is important, a land reform agenda cannot be limited to community ownership?
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I will be happy to address that point later in my speech, and I certainly agree with Patrick Harvie that the land reform agenda should not be constrained.As ...
Claire Baker
Lab
I welcome the minister’s announcement of the group’s expanded membership. However, I note that it has agreed quite a narrow remit. Will there be a chance to ...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
There is no change per se to the group’s remit, but the work that it carried out in phase 1 identified the areas that it feels it necessary to pursue in grea...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I call Alex Fergusson, who has five minutes.14:58
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
As it is often insinuated that we Conservatives are simply against land reform, I take this opportunity to say that nothing could be further from the truth. ...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
Will the member give way?
Alex Fergusson
Con
I am afraid that I have only five minutes, so the minister will have to forgive me that cheap jibe.On a slightly more important note, the same Professor Jim ...
Claire Baker
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Fergusson
Con
I just do not have time—I really am sorry. You chose to have a short debate, so I cannot help you.Furthermore, we are asked to recognise that“the Scottish Go...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I remind all members that they must speak through the chair, please.15:03
Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
SNP
In his chapter on the proper use of land in “Small Is Beautiful”, E F Schumacher says:“Among material resources, the greatest, unquestionably, is that land. ...
Claire Baker
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Rob Gibson
SNP
I have no time for interventions—I am sorry.The pace of land reform is quickening, not slackening, under the SNP Government. The tenant farming forum is unde...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
Four hundred and thirty-two people own half of Scotland. Nowhere else in the European Union or, indeed, the rest of the world is land ownership so skewed to ...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I am short of time and I want to make another couple of points.The commitment to extend community right to buy in urban areas should have been in the report,...
Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the debate secured by Claire Baker. Like others before me, I wish that Mrs Baker had waited for the independent group looking at the future of land...