The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
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Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 11 June 2024
Edward Mountain
Since land reform started, the number of agricultural tenancies has declined. As an agricultural tenant, I do not think that that is a great thing. I would like to see more land being made available for people to farm. Every time that the legislation has changed, landlords are put off from doing that. Is that not a fair assessment?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 11 June 2024
Edward Mountain
I have some questions about improvements and sustainable regenerative agriculture and how you value waygo compensation. When I was a surveyor, I found waygo to be the most difficult thing that I ever did, so having a formulaic process is quite good. Is it easy with sustainable and regenerative agriculture to have a formulaic waygo valuation?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 11 June 2024
Edward Mountain
I can see merit in getting that sorted out quickly, and for stopping the arguments on restricted and unrestricted market values and all the other things that are part of the waygo conversation, including the use of fodder and whether that is to be put back on the holding, and all the other technical issues that are of interest to me but I am sure will not interest other people.
Douglas Lumsden, it is definitely your turn now.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 11 June 2024
Edward Mountain
Thank you very much for that. I thank our witnesses for attending and sharing their views. That concludes the public part of our meeting.
We will continue to take evidence on the bill for a long time—up until Christmas, at least. The committee will be stepping outside the committee room to engage with people. The first event will be at the Royal Highland Show, where there will be a panel that includes Andy Wightman, so there will be a chance to engage with him on this subject, as well as the other panellists.
11:13 Meeting continued in private until 12:18.Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 11 June 2024
Edward Mountain
We go back to the deputy convener. [Interruption.] Do you have a supplementary on the issue, Jackie?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 11 June 2024
Edward Mountain
I want to go back to the issue of rent, which has always been a difficult one. In my day, it was a question of sitting around a table with a cup of tea and working out what was best and what was acceptable to both parties. I think that that is the way that it worked. There are certain formulaic provisions in the bill, the need for which I understand, but there is something that I do not understand. You are making some changes, but farming has changed a lot since 1991. House letting might be vitally importantly—it certainly is to my farming enterprise, in enabling costs to be offset by letting redundant cottages on the farm—but no account is taken of that in the rent. Is that fair and right?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 11 June 2024
Edward Mountain
If housing legislation were to come in that made various stipulations about what the letting conditions on the housing would have to be, it would fall to the landlord to meet those conditions, and the landlord would then expect to receive an increase in rent if the housing was being used for non-agricultural purposes. Is that what you are saying?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 11 June 2024
Edward Mountain
It will not be resolved as part of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill process, so we will have no idea of whether a rent is appropriate.
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 11 June 2024
Edward Mountain
I understand that, but my concern is that, as I understand it, the bill makes that a matter to be resolved between the landlord and the tenant, even though it might be a third party that is responsible for the damage. Should that be tightened up?
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Meeting date: 11 June 2024
Edward Mountain
It might not even be a case of leasing to a third party. The wild animals might be being transferred from another landholder’s holding. That is the issue that I am trying to understand. The bill seems to put the obligation on the landlord when the landlord has no control.