Land Reform Review Group

The Land Reform Review Group (LRRG) was established by Scottish Ministers in July 2012. Details can be found here The Group’s first call for evidence closed on 18 Janaury 2013.

On 20 May 2013, the LRRG published its Interim Report together with an Analysis of the Evidence received and a Media Release.

I have published various blog posts in response (see LRRG category) and Community Land Scotland has assembled a fairly comprehensive list of the responses.

In MAy 2014, the LRRG published its final Land Reform Review Group Report (alternative link here)

EVIDENCE SUBMITTED TO THE GROUP

Since they will not be publishing the submissions received until April 2014, I have created this page where it can be published. Please email me your submission (preferably in pdf format). Email at “Contact Me” in menu above. I am also publishing those submissions already made public. Links are to my server and also to the original.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

On 13 January I  emailed the Land Reform Review Group (whose Secretariat is provided by the Scottish Government) under Freedom of Information seeking copies of all evidence they held. On this day I did not know that the deadline had been extended by a week until 18 January. On 6 February, the SG replied and refused my request for copies of the evidence submitted to the Review Group on the grounds that to do so would be “manifestly unreasonable”. On 19 February I asked the SG to undertake a review of this decision and on 22 March, the SG responded upholding its refusal.

I have lodged an appeal with the Scottish Information Commissioner.

I also understand from sources that the LRRG might be changing their mind on their proposed publication date and publishing responses earlier that April 2014.

UPDATE 6 MAY – The Scottish Information Commissioner has validated my appeal and is now proceeding to investigate my complaint.

UPDATE 9 MAY – I have withdrawn my request to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a review and submitted a fresh Freedom of Information request to Scottish Ministers.

On 7 June 2013 this request was refused on two grounds. In the refusal, the LRRG Secretariat announced that publication of the evidence would be being brought forward from April 2014 to August 2013.

On 13 June 2013, I requested a review of this refusal. This review has not been conducted within the 20 working day limit as as of 1 August is still to be undertaken.

On 29 July 2013, the Land Reform Review Group published the responses to its call for evidence. See News of 29 July on LRRG website here and the responses can be viewed here.

SUBMITTED EVIDENCE

Andrew Donaldson, Comrie Croft

Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland

Ayr Converses (plus Community Empowerment & Renewal Bill response)

Big Lottery Fund

Blair Atholl & Struan Community Council

George Brockbank

Caledonia Centre for Social Development

Caledonia Centre for Social Development (Kinghorn Right to Buy Case Study)

Caledonia Centre for Social Development (Neilston Right to Buy Case Study)

Caledonia Centre for Social Development (Seton Fields Right to Buy Case Study)

Hazel Cameron

Julia Campbell

Carnegie UK Trust (& link to original)

Centre for Human Ecology (and link to annexed Henneman & McIntosh paper)

Church of Scotland

Paul Cochrane

Malcolm Combe, Rural Law Research Group, University of Aberdeen (& link to Malcolm’s blog entry)

Community Land Scotland (& link to original)

Community Woodlands Association

Noel Darlow

Development Trusts Association Scotland

John Digney

EADHA Enterprises

Ekklesia (& link to their webpage)

Forest Policy Group – Forestry

Forest Policy Group – Hunting

Ron Greer

Highland Council

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Historic Houses Association for Scotland

Holmehill Community Buyout Group

Andy Inglis

Brian Inkster, Inksters (& link to webpage)

Eilidh Ross, Inksters (& link to webpage)

Steve James

Ewan G Kennedy

Kinghorn Community Land Association

Ian Kirkwood

The Law Society of Scotland

Leith Community Crops in Pots

Jim McGillivray

Jamie McKenzie-Hamilton

Iain MacKinnon

Robin McLaren

Reginald Melton

Mountaineering Council of Scotland

National Farmers Union of Scotland

National Trust for Scotland

Nordic Enterprise Trust

Nourish (& link to webpage)

Oxfam

Ross Paton

Robbie Pennington

Ramblers Scotland

Reforesting Scotland

Bill Ritchie

Royal Town Planning Institute Scotland

Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society

Scottish Canoe Association

Scottish Community Alliance

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (& link to their webpage)

Scottish Crofting Federation (and link to their website)

Scottish Environment LINK (and link to their website)

Scottish Land & Estates full submission (and link to their website)

Scottish Land and Estates summary submission (and link to their website)

Scottish Tenant Farmers Association

Scotways (and link to their website)

Sideactivity Part 1 & Part 2

Sustrans

West Harris Trust

Andy Wightman (Principle submission 8.2Mb pdf)

Andy Wightman (Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 Two Year Review

Woodlands Crofts Partnership