Question reference: S6W-22101
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 9 October 2023
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 October 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendations in the Community Land Scotland publication, Beyond community benefit – a new deal for thriving communities.
Answer
I recently met with representatives from Community Land Scotland to discuss the Land Reform Bill and I will consider its proposals in the ‘Beyond community benefit – a new deal for thriving communities’ paper.
We are committed to introducing a Land Reform Bill to further improve transparency of land ownership, help ensure large scale land holdings deliver in the public interest, and empower communities by providing more opportunities to own land and have more say in how land in their area is used.
This new Bill will build on our land reform measures to date and will complement existing community right to buy mechanisms. The Scottish Land Fund, which was increased to £11m this year, is available to community groups across Scotland, whether they are acquiring an asset through any of these rights, or entering into a negotiated sale with a willing seller. We have committed to increasing this to £20m by the end of 2026.