MSPs urged to back Land Reform Bill hailed as ‘most radical since devolution’

MSPs are being urged to back a Bill that is described as being the “most radical land reform legislation in the history of devolution”.

SNP MSP Emma Roddick said the Scottish Government’s Bill marked a “watershed moment” in dealing with issues over who owns Scotland’s land.

Ministers introduced the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill in part to help reduce the concentration of rural land ownership, where small numbers of people own large areas of Scotland’s countryside.

In addition, the Bill seeks to increase opportunities for community buyouts of land, and also proposes that when large estates are put on the market these could be broken up into smaller areas – in a process known as lotting – if certain conditions are met.

Scottish Conservatives, however, claim the proposals in it are “completely unworkable”, saying the Bill would “impose measures that are extremely damaging to rural businesses and communities”.

In contrast, the Scottish Greens have argued that the Bill does not go far enough.

However, Ms Roddick urged all parties in Holyrood to “unite and back this most radical land reform legislation in the history of devolution”.

She said the Bill, which should have its final vote on Wednesday after late-night sessions by MSPs considering amendments, builds on previous land reform legislation

Ms Roddick said: “This Bill builds on the 2016 Act, which created the Scottish Land Commission and continues to improve the hard-won rights of communities and tenant farmers.

“For too long, too much control over land has been hoarded by lairds and wealthy landowners – this Bill marks a watershed moment and sends a clear signal that change is coming.

“This is a chance for Parliament to unite, address the root causes of many of the problems our rural communities face, and ensure that Scotland’s land can work for everyone who lives and works in it.”