NFU Scotland calls on MSPs and Scottish Ministers to consider key changes to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Ahead of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 Debate, scheduled to take place today (Wednesday 26 March 2025) NFU Scotland has written to MSPs to highlight several concerns the membership organisation has about elements of the Bill as it stands and push for changes to address these concerns.
The key concerns and recommendations highlighted by NFU Scotland are:
- Land Management Plans: Maintain the 3,000-hectare threshold to avoid burdening smaller landholdings with unnecessary costs and bureaucracy.
- Lotting Provisions: Current proposals could lead to costly taxpayer compensation. Support the exemption for “non-controversial small-scale transactions.”
- Resumption: Ensure tenants are left no better and no worse off. Avoid retrospective changes to agricultural tenancies to maintain confidence in land letting.
- Community Land Acquisition: Review existing provisions before introducing new measures to prevent business disruption.
- Scottish Land Commission: Keep the Commission advisory, not regulatory.
- Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture: Reference the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act’s Code of Practice without making it definitive.
- Diversification: Support voluntary diversification to ensure agricultural business viability.
Duncan Macalister, NFU Scotland Vice-President explained, “NFU Scotland has welcomed the opportunity to engage with the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee during its considerations of the Bill. While supporting some elements of the Bill, we have raised concerns about the Bill as it currently stands and are urging MSPs and Scottish Ministers to consider and address some key issues around Land Management Plans, Lotting Provisions, Resumption, Community Land Acquisition, Scottish Land Commission, Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture, and Diversification.
“Our concerns highlight the potential unintended consequences for farmers and crofters of specific elements of the Bill if left as they are. We are seeking and emphasising the need for balanced rights and responsibilities for all land users.
“NFU Scotland supports responsible land ownership and management. Farmers and crofters are vital to local communities and the socio-economic fabric of Scotland. The Scottish food and drink sector generates over £16 billion in turnover and employs over 130,000 people. With 40% of Scotland’s agricultural land classified as High Nature Value farmland, farmers and crofters play a key role in sustaining and enhancing the land’s environmental worth.”
