Chamber and committees

Okay. It sort of links into the earlier question around how you can draw up a management plan for a crofting estate if you have no control of the crofting or what the crofters do, except to say, “I want it to be a crofting estate,” which is what will happen anyway. I am not sure. It is complex. Gemma, NFUS looks at some crofting issues. Do you have a view on that point?

Who would be responsible for the arbitration of community engagement? Would that sit with the Land Commission as a whole?

Before we go to a break, I have a question. I got the impression that £5,000 was considered to be a good starting point for a potential fine. What would happen if the plan was not produced three months later and there was no reason for it not to be? Do you think that there should be a graduated fine? Would that help the legislation to achieve what is intended? Would that make it clear to people that they cannot just deal with a £5,000 fine because it is cheaper than spending the £15,000 that would be required to produce a plan? I do not know; it is just a question.

I almost caught you nodding there, Gemma Cooper. Do you agree?

My next question was going to be whether only large landowners should be prevented from performing the role or whether all landowners should be prevented from doing so. Can you see why the definition of a large landowner has been used, or do you think that that approach is based on a perception? Should we simply look for the best person to do the job?

That brings us to the end of the session. As we will continue to look at land reform for some time yet, if you would like to follow up on anything that you have said, or if there is anything that you missed, you can get in touch with the committee clerks and let them know.

Thank you for attending this morning’s meeting. There was one member who might have been joining us, but they have not done so. That brings us to the end of the public part of the meeting, and we now move into private.

That issue was quite extensively raised when the committee went to Aberfeldy and listened to the aspirations of the community there.

The next questions will come from Mark Ruskell.

Thank you. I am looking around the table and I see that Douglas Lumsden wants to come in.

As there do not appear to be any further questions, we move to agenda item 3, which is the debate on motion S6M-14755. No, it is not—I am sorry. Yes, it is. I am sorry—I almost confused myself, but I was not confused. Agenda item 3 is the debate on motion S6M-14755, which calls on the committee to recommend approval of the draft order.

Cabinet secretary, I invite you to move and speak to the motion.

I see that no member wishes to make a contribution. On that basis, I am not entirely convinced that you will need to sum up, cabinet secretary, but, if you want to, I have to give you the opportunity.