News

Land use key to helping achieve Scotland’s climate change targets

General News

Building the best future for Scotland’s environment and tackling climate change is achieved through ambitious land use - rather than ownership being the deciding factor. Following publication of a new report by Community Land Scotland on the role played by community landowners in tackling the climate emergency, Scottish Land & Estates...

Anxieties remain over future of deer management

Press Release

Acknowledgment by government of the substantial recent progress in deer management has been welcomed by estates - but concerns remain over the future regulation of the species. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, made the comments following the Scottish Government’s response to the recommendations of the Deer Working...

Short term strategy welcomed but long-term land use plan is required

Press Release

A long-term plan for land use is required which recognises the key role land has to play in our economic recovery, ensuring our communities thrive and in addressing climate change. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, spoke today following the publication of the Scottish Government’s strategic paper “Land use -...

Rural land managers ahead of the game on land reform

Press Release

Rural land managers are ahead of the game on positive engagement with land reform guidance, Scottish Land & Estates said today. After a review was published by the Scottish Government regarding the Guidance on Engaging Communities in Decisions Relating to Land, the rural business organisation said it was clear that rural land managers had...

SLE says Livestock Attack Bill is good news for farmers

Press Release

The imminent passage of legislation to deal with dog attacks on livestock is a hugely welcome move for rural Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The rural business organisation has thrown its weight behind the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill. A member’s bill brought forward by Emma Harper MSP. It will...

Carbon land tax would not aid environmental outcomes

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has responded to a call from the John Muir Trust for the introduction of a new carbon land tax. Stephen Young, Head of Policy at Scottish Land & Estates, said: "Owners of rural land are already playing a huge role in helping meet the Scottish Government's climate change targets...

Scottish Government 2021 Covid-19 timetable announced

General News

Commenting on the First Minister’s Covid timetable published today (16 March 2021), Stephen Young, Head of Policy at Scottish Land & Estates said: “We welcome the additional clarity provided by the First Minister’s statement on reopening the economy and society. These indicative dates offer hope for many of our members who employ people...

Finance and policy will determine success of Scotland’s long term housing ambitions

Press Release

Continuously improving Scotland’s housing stock is a vision shared by all stakeholders but requires the right policies and funding become reality. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, made the comments in response to the Scottish Government’s publication of the Housing to 2040 strategy. The document sets out the...

Public attitudes to land reform study

General News

A study of public attitudes towards land reform carried out on behalf of the Scottish Government by Ipsos MORI Scotland has been published. A lack of knowledge of the land reform agenda and even an understanding of what land reform means is apparent in this research. In deliberative discussions, there was general support for a greater...

Welcome measures announced in the UK Government Budget

General News

The extension of the Government’s furlough scheme was among the measures in the UK Government budget yesterday welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates. In his budget speech, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced welcome support for small businesses called for by SLE, including the continuation of the 5% VAT rate for Hospitality and Tourism...