| Identifying The Solutions |
 |
| 1 Introduction
|
| 1.1 The Land
Reform Policy Group was set up in October 1997, with the remit: |
| "to identify and assess proposals for land reform in rural Scotland,
taking account of their cost, legislati~e and administrative implications and their likely
impact on the social and economic development of rural communities and on the natural
heritage." |
The Group is
chaired by Lord Sewel, Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Fisheries, and other
core members are as follows:
- Isabelle Low (Deputy Chair), Head of Land Use Division,
Scottish Office
- Professor John Bryden, Arkleton Centre, University of
Aberdeen
- Murray Elder, Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for
Scotland
- Alan Fraser, Head of Enterprise and Tourism Division,
Scottish Office
- Douglas Greig, Chief Economist, Agriculture, Environment and
Fisheries Department (AEFD), Scottish Office
- David Henderson-Howat, Chief Conservator, Forestry
Commission
- Joyce Lugton, Civil Law Division, Scottish Office
- Hugh MacDiarmid, Solicitor’s Office, Scottish Office
- John Randall, Head of Countryside and Natural Heritage Unit,
Scottish Office
- Philip Rycroft, Head of Agricultural Policy Co-ordination
and Rural Development Division, Scottish Office.
|
| |
| Identifying
the problems |
| |
| 1.2 In
February 1998 the Group issued its first consultation paper on identifying the problems
and opportunities which land reform should address. Over 360 responses have been received
(plus a further 90 dealing with land reform in response to the rural strategy consultation
paper), and these are analysed in Chapter 2. This written consultation has been
supplemented by visits to and meetings with a wide range of interested parties. The Group
is most grateful to all who have contributed so far. It is clear that there is
wide-ranging agreement about the timeliness of land reform, and enthusiasm for making it
happen. |
| Vision for the
future |
| |
| 1.3 In the
light of all contributions received, the Group has now reviewed its provisional
conclusions on the case for land reform, and on what the problems and opportunities are.
This has led to the development of an emerging, integrated vision of the changes in the
pattern of land use and ownership which the Group would like to see in the future. This is
set out in Chapter 3. |
| Identifying
the solutions |
| |
1.4 The next
stage is to identify and then assess possible options for action which might help to
deliver this vision. The Group has reviewed these individually, and considered in each
case:
- what would be achieved by the proposed change;
- the legislative implications;
- the administrative implications; and
- the cost.
|
| These
individual appraisals form the major part of this second consultation paper. |
