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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 20 December 2024
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Displaying 4180 contributions

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Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 3 December 2024

Edward Mountain

It is 3,000 hectares for the management.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 3 December 2024

Edward Mountain

Before I go to Bob Doris’s question on this, I will note that I do not know who said that £5,000 is not much money, but it is an awful lot of money if someone has not got much money. The question is whether fines should be on a sliding scale. If someone holds a huge tranche of land, should they be fined more than a farmer who has 200 acres or 200 hectares—if we are going to hectares, or whatever it should be? Does Andy Wightman want to come in on that?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 3 December 2024

Edward Mountain

I think, in fairness, that you were quoting £50 an hour for a land agent. That is what it was 20 years ago, when I was working; I think that you will find that it is more than four times that now. It probably keeps pace with the mechanic in the garage, who is charging around £140 an hour.

Peter, do you have a figure?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 3 December 2024

Edward Mountain

Laurie, do you have a view on the figure, and on why the Government has settled on 3,000 hectares?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 3 December 2024

Edward Mountain

No. In fairness, Peter, we will come back to the land and communities commissioner in some questions at the end, so you will get a chance.

I will make an observation to Peter, Andy, Laurie and Magnus. We are about an eighth of the way through the questions and about an hour through our time. Having ex-politicians on a panel always involves a danger that they might expand their answers. I ask you to cut those down, and I will carefully signal to you to keep them short. It is all very well just nodding at me, but you will have to pay me a bit of mind because, if I do not get all these guys’ questions in, I will be in trouble at the end—and I have to live with them every day. Please, therefore, keep your answers short. Of course, if you agree with another panel member, there is no problem with saying, “I agree”, and leaving it at that.

I will move on to the next questions.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 3 December 2024

Edward Mountain

That is very generous of you.

Does Magnus Linklater want to come in?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 3 December 2024

Edward Mountain

I go briefly to Monica Lennon.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 3 December 2024

Edward Mountain

Kevin Stewart wants to come in with a follow-up question, so I will bring him in and then come back to you, Monica.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Meeting date: 3 December 2024

Edward Mountain

Good morning, and welcome to the 36th meeting in 2024 of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. The first item of business this morning is a decision on whether to take items 3 and 4 in private. Item 3 is consideration of the committee’s approach to the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which is quite a weighty tome. Item 4 is consideration of the evidence on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill that we are about to hear.

Do we agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 3 December 2024

Edward Mountain

Before we go on, with Kevin Stewart asking a question next—