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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 23 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: 5 November 2024

Edward Mountain

Let us see whether they come out later down the line. My question was meant to be a short and easy starter to warm you up before I hand over to other committee members to ask questions.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 5 November 2024

Edward Mountain

I am just pondering whether anonymity would open the gate for anyone to make a vexatious claim without having to put their name to it. There are always checks and balances.

The deputy convener wants to come in with questions.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 5 November 2024

Edward Mountain

I am smiling only because I know of a huge number of community councils across the Highlands that do not have enough members to be actually working, and have gone into abeyance.

Back to you, Michael.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 5 November 2024

Edward Mountain

Now I can see only two witnesses on my screen. Oh, there we go. I cannot see whether Jon Hollingdale is looking away or at the camera. Linda Gillespie, were you going to kick off?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 5 November 2024

Edward Mountain

We do need to get back to the original questions on criteria and thresholds. I will let you ask this question, Bob, and then I will bring in the deputy convener.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 5 November 2024

Edward Mountain

Thank you, Michael.

Mark, will you ask your first set of questions? I will then come in with a question before you move on to your second set.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 5 November 2024

Edward Mountain

We have actually stretched this evidence session longer than I had anticipated, so I briefly suspend the meeting for five minutes to allow for a comfort break.

10:48 Meeting suspended.  

10:54 On resuming—  

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 5 November 2024

Edward Mountain

I know, and I am going to blow the whole thing by asking a supplementary question.

I understand what you have just said, Josh, but interfering in the open market value by dictating who can buy something will depress the value of the land, will it not? Will it also not give rise to claims? I have been doing lotting for years, and it is a bit of a black art; you have to take into account what the market needs and what local individuals want and then try to strike a balance between the two. It can work very well, as we heard when we were on the Buccleuch estates, if you know what communities and individuals want. However, you seem to be suggesting that that is not the best way of doing this—or have I got that wrong?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 5 November 2024

Edward Mountain

You have just mentioned the one thing that always terrifies me, as a parliamentarian. You have said that, instead of dealing with the issue in primary legislation, we should just come up with some figures and then some guidance afterwards. As a parliamentarian, I am meant to pass legislation that I understand, but I cannot understand stuff that is not in the bill. That means that I have to leave it to someone else to do that at a later date—and that person might not be as reasonable as you are, Josh.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee [Draft]

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 5 November 2024

Edward Mountain

We will come to that in due course. I am now going to hand over—