A stronger Land Reform Bill (LRB) is required to deliver on the Scottish Government's needed 'radical changes', MSPs have said.

The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee (RACCE) said a range of issues in the bill needed more work.

The LRB proposes a series of changes, including ending rates exemptions for shooting and deerstalking estates, creating a Tenant Farming Commissioner as part of the Scottish Land Commission, encouraging better information and greater transparency on the ownership of land, through the land register, strengthening the regulators hand in instances where land owners are failing to take their deer management responsibilities seriously and improvements to both systems of common good land and right to roam.


However Convener of the RACCE, Rob Gibson MSP, said some parts of bill "require more work".

"Key issues - such as improving transparency on who owns, controls and benefits from land, making the rent review process fairer and more transparent; and creating a better environment for investment in holdings by both tenants and landlords - require either further consideration or more detailed explanation," he said.

"We are asking for greater detail before the Stage One debate at the Scottish Parliament, so the Committee can be clear on what is intended and how it will work.

"The Bill has stimulated a huge debate across Scotland about our land and what it means for the country.  

"It is important that as the Bill progresses through the parliamentary process members from across the chamber join the Committee and the Government in working to deliver the ambition and clarity most people in Scotland want to see."

(LM)