Chamber
Plenary, 15 Mar 2007
15 Mar 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003<br />(Countryside Access)
Environment and Rural Development
Further funding of £8.1 million for 2006-07 and 2007-08 for access-related activity has been made available to local authorities across Scotland in the grant-aided expenditure assessment. That money is not ring fenced, but I hope that local authorities will take seriously their responsibilities to implement the provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.
The principles of the act were widely supported, and its provisions have secured wide acceptance in practice. However, I am interested in Dennis Canavan's concerns. I would be concerned if people were to believe that landowners are ignoring or deliberately breaching the access code. Obviously, I do not want to comment on any court cases, but I point out that the access code was the subject of wide consultation and a lot of discussion and negotiation. The final wording was not reached easily, but local authorities, landowners and groups representing those interested in securing wider access were involved in putting it together. I would be grateful if Dennis Canavan would write to me about any particular examples that I need to be made aware of.
The principles of the act were widely supported, and its provisions have secured wide acceptance in practice. However, I am interested in Dennis Canavan's concerns. I would be concerned if people were to believe that landowners are ignoring or deliberately breaching the access code. Obviously, I do not want to comment on any court cases, but I point out that the access code was the subject of wide consultation and a lot of discussion and negotiation. The final wording was not reached easily, but local authorities, landowners and groups representing those interested in securing wider access were involved in putting it together. I would be grateful if Dennis Canavan would write to me about any particular examples that I need to be made aware of.
In the same item of business
2. Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind):
Ind
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the implementation of the provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 in respect of access t...
Members:
Hear, hear.
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Sarah Boyack):
Lab
I am satisfied with the progress that has been achieved in implementing the access provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. However, there will be ...
Dennis Canavan:
Ind
Is the minister aware of the complaints that have been made about the diversion of access funding, given that local authorities received £29.2 million in acc...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
Further funding of £8.1 million for 2006-07 and 2007-08 for access-related activity has been made available to local authorities across Scotland in the grant...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab):
Lab
Will the minister provide an update on the latest situation with the Pairc court case, which involves crofters from the Lochs area of Lewis? Those crofters a...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
The minister must be careful, as sub judice considerations may be involved.
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
The Scottish Land Court is now considering the Pairc case. A contribution of £16,000 has been received from Highlands and Islands Enterprise. It is expected ...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
I return to the issue of access. There appeared to be difficulties with the definition of "curtilage" in relation to access. I was among the majority who agr...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
As I said, we intend to carry out a wide review of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 in 2007. I do not want to comment on any court cases. If members who w...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
Does the minister agree that the Scottish outdoor access code was intended to be a guide to the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 for all matters within that a...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
The Executive certainly has no concern about the 2003 act's not being compliant with the European convention on human rights.I would be concerned if Pauline ...