Organisations representing deer managers and environmental NGOs have jointly welcomed the crucial amendments lodged by MSPs Tim Eagle and Rhoda Grant to the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, which will be voted on in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow (December 10). An amendment lodged by Scottish Conservative MSP, Tim Eagle, calls for...
A new report says Scotland must draw on international best practice to urgently tackle rural depopulation, including the establishment of Repopulation Priority Areas. Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, spoke as it launched policy proposals it believes can provide a practical solution to depopulation. The report was...
The legality, workability and effectiveness of proposals for government intervention in deer management have been thrown into serious doubt following the release of advice to Scottish Ministers in the wake of a prolonged freedom of information battle. Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, had to appeal to the...
Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has said today’s UK Budget offers little meaningful support to unlock the growth potential of rural Scotland. Ahead of the Budget, SLE wrote to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, urging targeted measures to ease pressures on rural businesses – including relief from punishing National Insurance contributions...
Scottish Land & Estates said today that a new survey by the Scottish Land Commission on land reform demonstrated that political agendas on land reform are out of step with public priorities. The rural business organisation was responding to the ScotLand Futures report published by the commission today, which presents findings from a...
The Scottish Government risks undermining decades of voluntary, collaborative deer management – and even compromising stalker safety – if key elements of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill are not improved at Stage 2. Scottish Land & Estates made the comments as MSPs on the Rural Affairs and Islands (RAI) committee prepare to...
Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, has urged MSPs to work with rural businesses and workers to secure benefits for nature and help reduce the impact of climate change. As the Natural Environment Bill progresses to Stage 2 scrutiny, a considerable number of amendments have been proposed, including some which...
Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) is working with Scottish Forestry, Forest Research and Scottish Woodlands to help land managers prepare for the threats to woodland from our changing climate. SLE member Castlemilk & Corrie Estates in Dumfriesshire is at the forefront of planning for a changing climate and is presenting the results of its...
The Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill risks exacerbating Scotland’s rural housing crisis unless exemptions and safeguards are put in place to protect fragile rural markets, Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has said. The rural business organisation commented after providing evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public...
Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, has issued the following statement following the completion of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill at the Scottish Parliament. Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Perhaps uniquely, this legislation has succeeded in uniting landowners, land reform...
