Jun 27 2013
TENANTS RIGHT TO BUY MUST NOT BECOME A POLITICAL FOOTBALL
TENANTS RIGHT TO BUY MUST NOT BECOME A POLITICAL FOOTBALL
The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association is calling on the Scottish Government to put its’ land reform cards on the table and not to allow the debate over tenant farmers’ right to buy to become a political football. Following discussions with members at the RHS, STFA has concluded that the government must now clarify its intentions over land reform and the extension of the tenant’s right to buy and undertake a study of Scotland’s land tenure structure as a matter of urgency.
Speaking after the Show chairman Christopher Nicholson said; “We are pleased that after the Cabinet Secretary’s comments at the RHS the way is now open for an open debate over land ownership and an absolute right to buy for tenant farmers. For the last decade ARTB has been the elephant in the room and the mere mention of it drives landlords to man the barricades but it is now time to take a good look at the underlying reasons for the drive for it and an examination of the detail and implications of implementing ARTB.
“There is a general mood to create a more diverse land ownership structure in Scotland and extending the tenants right to buy may or may not be part of the equation. However, an informed debate over ARTB can only take place if we know what we are talking about. So it is imperative that the government commissions a survey of land ownership and land tenure throughout Scotland as soon as possible. The Cabinet Secretary’s recent comments on ARTB have moved the goalposts and STFA has written to the recently re-invigorated Land Reform Review Group to request that their decision to exclude consideration of tenancy matters be reversed and their remit extended to include a scrutiny of land tenure in light of changing circumstances.
“The agricultural industry is facing a huge amount of uncertainty just now with CAP reform and the independence question. On top of that the tenanted sector is in decline and beset with endemic problems such as a failing rent review system and a lack of opportunity for new entrants. These and many other issues will be considered during the promised review of agricultural tenancies, but that review must take place in light of the broader policy issues which will emerge following a thorough study of land ownership and tenure. We cannot discuss the merits and demerits of ARTB in a vacuum and a review must take account of the different challenges faced by tenants and rural communities in different parts of the country and identify appropriate solutions.”