Land reform ‘at heart of our success’

Published on 25/07/2012 01:06

Land reform will play a crucial role in the success of Scotland, the First Minister said.

Alex Salmond spoke yesterday as he announced details of a group which is being set up to carry out a wide-ranging review of land reform.

The land reform review group will be chaired by Dr Alison
Elliot, the first female Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and will look at legislation.

As the First Minister announced the establishment of the new group – which fulfils an election manifesto pledge by the SNP – he said he wanted the review to deliver “radical change for both urban and rural areas”.

Dr Elliot said she wanted to look at what opportunities there were for communities to take “control of their future by taking control of their land”.

Speaking during a visit to Skye, where the Scottish Cabinet was meeting, Mr Salmond said: “Land reform is an important part of Scotland’s story.

“We cannot under-estimate the crucial part [it] will play in contributing to the future
success of Scotland for the next generation.

“By improving the relationship between our land and people, we can create stronger communities and deliver the economic growth and fairer society that the people of Scotland quite rightly expect.”