Chamber and committees

My final point is in relation to the disqualification criteria that are set out for the commissioner. A provision in section 6 says that a person is to be disqualified from the role if they have been the owner of a large landholding in the preceding year. Is the threshold sufficient?

Does Jon or Linda want to contribute on this question?

Section 6 will establish the land and communities commissioner. Has the Government got the establishment of the commissioner right?

I was just taking on board your point about the lack of a definition of “community” and testing whether you have a clear understanding of what you think should be applied in defining that against what is proposed in the bill. I take it from what you said that you think that it should not be in the bill, but should be addressed in guidance. That could be more principle based, rather than being overly prescriptive, to help to define what a community is. Is that a fair reflection of what you are saying?

Good morning, and thank you for your evidence so far. I want to go back to the point about the 3,000 hectare threshold that is set out in the bill. Beyond what is stated in the policy memorandum, why do you think that the 3,000-hectare figure has been selected and not the 500-hectare figure that you have suggested?

However, I am taking that as a “wrong”.

I turn to Jon Hollingdale. In your evidence on consultation on land management plans and engagement, you raised concerns about the lack of a definition of “community” in the bill. Will you expand on what you mean by that? Do you have a definition that you believe should be in the legislation? If so, should it be in the text of the bill or in the regulatory provisions?

As a word of caution, I note that I would not use community councils as the marker here because, even in urban areas, many of them do not function due to a lack of members.

That gives you more flexibility if it is not working properly.

My reading of what you are saying is that you think that the threshold of disqualification is sufficient, but the risks associated with the issue of potential conflict are better managed by the commissioner being based within the Land Commission. Is that correct?

Are you saying that you do not believe that the land and communities commissioner should be a stand-alone commissioner and that they should be part of the Scottish Land Commission? Is that correct?