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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 21 August 2025
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Displaying 5980 contributions

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Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 10 June 2025

Edward Mountain

It appears that Mark Ruskell is going to get another bite of the cherry at this stage to speak to amendment 412, unless he has done so already.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 10 June 2025

Edward Mountain

The committee heard about the fine levels when we took evidence. It was generally felt that £5,000 was quite light for some of the bigger businesses. We heard that a land management plan could cost somewhere between £15,000 and £20,000—I think that we discounted the much bigger estimates. That means that, if the fines were limited to £5,000, it would take four years of fines to equal the cost of not producing a land management plan. However, I have a problem with taking the level to £40,000, which is an incredibly large amount. Although I accept that a landholding of 1,000 hectares is a substantial holding, 1,000 hectares in the cabinet secretary’s constituency might be far more productive than 1,000 hectares on an uninhabited island or small island in the Highlands, or even in the Highlands as a whole, where densities of stocking are limited by the amount of vegetation. Therefore, the profitability of the holding would be such that a £40,000 fine would be impossible to pay, which is the point that I made earlier. I am signalling that, although I agree in principle with what Mr Doris has suggested, which is that £5,000 is too little, £40,000 seems to be a massive figure.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 10 June 2025

Edward Mountain

I hear the deputy convener’s point, which is well made. However, the amendment does not set out that the fine could not be £40,000 each time, which causes me huge concern.

I will move on to the point about compulsory purchase. I am not sure that compulsory purchase could be done under the relevant legislation, although it is some time since I read that legislation. However, I think that there would be huge problems with compulsorily purchasing land and with valuing land for that purpose. I will leave my comments there.

I will invite Mark Ruskell to wind up—

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 10 June 2025

Edward Mountain

I love conversations, and I would love to have one, but I do not think that the committee procedure will allow that. If you would like to make an intervention, Mr Doris, I am happy to take one.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 10 June 2025

Edward Mountain

I think that what you have picked up, Mr Doris, is that I think that repeat offenders should incur greater costs and that somebody should not go straight from 0 to 70, if that is the right analogy—I, of course, mean £0 to £40,000. I will give way to the deputy convener, but then I fear that I will need to move on. Otherwise, I will be accused of delaying the procedures.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 10 June 2025

Edward Mountain

There will be a division.

For

Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP)
Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)

Against

Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)
Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 10 June 2025

Edward Mountain

The result of the division is: For 5, Against 2, Abstentions 0.

Amendment 53 agreed to.

Amendments 345 and 346 not moved.

Amendment 54 moved—[Mark Ruskell].

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 10 June 2025

Edward Mountain

The question is, that amendment 54 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 10 June 2025

Edward Mountain

There will be a division.

For

Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP)
Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)

Against

Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)
Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 10 June 2025

Edward Mountain

The result of the division is: For 5, Against 2, Abstentions 0.

Amendment 55 agreed to.

Amendment 56 moved—[Mark Ruskell].