…the blog and website of Andy Wightman
Landownership in rural Scotland remains hugely concentrated in the hands of very few large landowners. Whilst the kinds of reforms that might change this appear to be on the back-burner as far as the Scottish government is concerned, there is
Continue readingPictured above is Rob Bain of Ardoch, Deeside, Aberdeenshire who died in July, 2010. Rob was the son of Jean Bain, the last native speaker of Deeside Gaelic who died in 1984. In an interview with Sheena Blackhall, Rob
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 readingLast week saw the 10th anniversary of the Stage 1 debate on the Land Reform (Scotland) bill in the Scottish Parliament. It is interesting to note some of the statements made by MSPs at the time. Column numbers are in
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 readingUPDATE 25 APRIL 2012 In the Stage 1 debate on the Long Leases Bill, Stewart Stevenson, the Minister in charge of the Bill announced that the Scottish Government were looking at possibility of exempting Waverley Market on the basis that
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Why on earth is an ancient Scottish Royal Park about to be flogged off for a million quid? King’s Park in Stirling dates back to the 12th century and is a landscape of inestimable historic and cultural importance. If you
Continue readingI will be giving a public lecture in Aberdeen on Thursday 1 March 2012. All welcome. Download LARGE poster here 6.2Mb)
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
Continue readingThe Scottish Government has re-introduced its Long Leases Bill which fell in the last Session of Parliament when it ran out of time. See previous posts on topic here and here and my written evidence to previous Bill Committee. Put
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