Rural business keen to see revitalised relationship with government

Press Release

First Minister John Swinney and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes have the chance to revitalise the Scottish Government’s relationship with businesses in rural Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates has said.

The rural business organisation said the rural expertise of the new government leaders would be important in tackling the opportunities and challenges of the next few years.

SLE, on behalf of its members, has written this week to the new First Minister to congratulate him on his appointment and request a meeting to discuss key rural priorities.

These priorities include:

• Recognising the significant contribution land based businesses are making to deliver benefits for everyone, and creating an evidenced-based legislative environment that supports their work to continue delivering these benefits.
• Positively rural proofing Scottish Government policy across portfolios to ensure that rural priorities are always considered, and new legislation delivers for the whole of Scotland.
• Addressing the gap in funding and delivery on climate mitigation and nature restoration, including forestry; agriculture; peatland restoration and natural flood management.
• Reversing rural depopulation by supporting the delivery of more rural homes and ensuring a fair share of Scotland’s housing budget it allocated to rural areas and focussing on delivering promised upgrades to rural transport and digital connectivity.
• Tackling rural specific crime and addressing irresponsible access to land by continuing to take a robust approach to dealing with the perpetrators of these crimes and providing rural police with the resources they need to carry out their duties effectively.

Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said:
“With a change in leadership, a new opportunity exists for rural Scotland, its communities and businesses to have a greater voice in rural policymaking.

“Both Mr Swinney and Ms Forbes represent rural constituencies and fully understand the issues and pressures that exist – and how government decision-making is vital in working for, not against, rural Scotland. 

"We have had positive and constructive engagement with the new First and Deputy First Minister previously and we look forward to a pragmatic, evidence-based approach in the coming years under their direction.

“Scotland’s rural estates are the beating heart of the rural economy, generating an estimated £2.4 billion GVA/year and supporting around 57,300 jobs – around 1 in 10 rural jobs. Estates provide homes for 13,000 families and land for 14,000 rural enterprises, account for 57% of Scotland’s renewable energy generating capacity whilst welcoming 5.4 million Scottish residents annually to enjoy the natural environment. 

“However, our members - and the wider rural sector - have expressed concern in recent times that government policies and legislative proposals did not recognise these significant contributions.

"Between land reform, the Agriculture Bill shaping future farming subsidies, changes to deer management, a new Housing Bill and various other issues such as natural capital, forestry and peatland restoration, we recognise that substantial change on the horizon. We were pleased to hear Mr Swinney’s stated focus on the economy and jobs - land-based businesses want to work positively with the Scottish Government and we hope the new First Minister will enable that to happen."