…the blog and website of Andy Wightman
Yesterday in the UK Parliament, the Prime Minister confirmed that he would co-operate with the Scottish Affairs Select Committee to establish “who owns and controls the great landed estates in Scotland, in order that they can minimise both tax avoidance and
Continue readingThe Mirror carries a report today (13 April 2013) that the house that Margaret Thatcher lived in for the past 20 years is “owned” by a company called Bakeland Property Company Ltd. registered in the British Virgin Islands. The story
Continue readingThe Guardian are running a series of investigative articles on the use of offshore tax havens to acquire land & property in London. It was timely, therefore to see Steven Vaas’s article in the Herald on Monday which revealed that
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Today, the Scottish Government announced the establishment of a “Land Reform Review Group” that will oversee a “wide ranging review of land reform in Scotland”. If this happens it will be very worthwhile. However, the remit and membership of this
Continue readingA number of people in the SNP have been trying to persuade me that the Scottish Government is serious about getting land reform back on track. I am prepared to accept this once I see the evidence. Meanwhile events suggest
Continue readingAs the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) bill makes its way through Parliament, those of us who wish to see a crackdown on tax havens being used to record title to land in Scotland might care to recall this story of
Continue readingThe Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill is currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament. One topic I have raised is the question of beneficial landownership and land held by companies in tax havens (see previous posts on topic).The Scottish Government
Continue readingProposals for the development of Craighouse Campus in Edinburgh were reported in the Scotsman today. The developers. Craighouse Partnership is proposing to build 116 houses on the site. A local campaign, Friends of Craighouse, has been opposing the proposals. I
Continue readingIn relation to my previous post discussion the Stage 1 report on the Long Leases (Scotland) Bill, it is only right that I should also highlight the Stage 1 report on the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill published on 6
Continue readingThis morning, I gave evidence at the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee of the Scottish Parliament as part of their Stage 1 scrutiny of the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill (see previous posts for further info). One question asked related
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