News

Quicker delivery of rural payments welcome boost for Scottish land management

Press Release

The Scottish Government strategy for rural payments for 2020-21 will be broadly welcomed by farmers and land managers, Scottish Land & Estates said today. The rural business organisation made the comments following a parliamentary statement by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing this afternoon. Eleanor Kay, Policy Adviser (Agriculture)...

Rural businesses facing unprecedented challenges over food standards and climate change

Press Release

The twin tests of Brexit and maintaining Scotland’s high quality food production should not detract from the biggest challenge of our time – halting climate change. Mark Tennant, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), which represents rural businesses, said serious choices of priorities lie ahead both for government and food producers...

Planned cap changes welcomed by SLE

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has welcomed planned changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Less Favoured Area Support (Scotland) (LFASS) intimated today. The amendments, announced by the Scottish Government, are due to come into effect on 1 January 2021. Eleanor Kay, Policy Adviser (Agriculture) at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “We...

SLE's Vice-Chair (Policy) writes open letter to Cllr. Bell of Kirriemuir

General News

Dee Ward, Chairman of the Angus Glens Moorland Group and Vice-Chair (Policy) of Scottish Land & Estates, has written an open letter to Cllr. Bell of Kirriemuir, inviting her to visit his estate to see for herself the important conservation and biodiversity work which takes place, following her motion to the SNP conference taking place at...

Grouse moor report shows unrivalled impact of sector to rural Scotland

Press Release

New Scottish Government-led research into the impact of grouse shooting has provided ‘definitive proof’ of its value to rural Scotland. Scottish Land & Estates welcomed research carried out by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the James Hutton Institute, which studied socioeconomic and biodiversity impacts of driven grouse moors as well...

UK Government commitment on food standards welcome but further detail on implementation required

Press Release

An increased role for the UK Parliament in protecting food standards in future trade deals is welcome but requires further clarity on its implementation. Scottish Land & Estates, which represents land-based and rural businesses, made the comments ahead of the latest House of Commons debate on the UK Agriculture Bill. Following votes in...

Planned environmental standards scotland watchdog needs greater accountability to parliament

Press Release

Parliament should have a greater role in the operation of the new governance body Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS), Scottish Land & Estates said today. Provisions for the creation of the organisation are being examined at Stage 1 of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill. ESS is intended to replace...

SLE welcomes vote on amendments to safeguard food standards

Press Release

Further attempts to strengthen legislation on imported food standards post-Brexit have been welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates. Following a debate in the House of Lords on Tuesday (October 20), peers voted to accept two amendments to the Agriculture Bill making its way through parliament. The amendments require equivalence in agri...

Blanket approach to short-term lets could harm rural Scotland

Press Release

New regulations being proposed for short-term let housing could have a devastating impact on Scotland’s rural communities, most of whom are already under severe pressure dealing with the wide-scale impacts of Covid-19, says Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the organsiation representing rural businesses and landowners. In its response to the...

Quarter of land managers experienced anti-social behaviour in the countryside

Press Release

A quarter of land managers looking after Scotland’s beautiful countryside have experienced anti-social behaviour from members of the public this year including witnessing fighting, people shouting abuse and noise from parties. The findings are part of a report into responsible access to the countryside carried out by Scottish Land &...