Written evidence submitted by Community
Land Scotland
FUTURE MANAGEMENT
OF THE
SCOTTISH CROWN
ESTATE
1. Community Land Scotland notes that both the
Calman Commission and the subsequent Scotland Bill 2010 (the Bill)
have highlighted the matter of the Crown Estate in Scotland.
2. Community Land Scotland believes that the
time is now right to correct the change made in 1832, when the
powers of administration of the Scottish Crown Estate were transferred
to London. Scotland was a very different place in 1832, the time
of the Reform Acts and a few years after the visit of the George
IV to Edinburgh. The 179 years that elapsed since then has been
a comparatively short period in the life of the Crown of Scotland.
3. While the Bill proposes that there be a Scottish
Commissioner, there is no proposal on the power of direction.
We believe that this power should not remain with the Secretary
of State for Scotland, being remote from the management of Crown
property rights. We therefore believe that the power of direction
be vested in Scottish Ministers. Prior to the establishment of
the Crown Estate Commissioners in 1956, the Commissioner of Crown
Lands for Scotland was democratically elected, being the Secretary
of State for Scotland. The situation is quite different now, following
the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament.
4. Given that the overall aim of the Scotland
Bill is to "further empower the Scottish Parliament",
it would seem entirely appropriate that the "Scottish Commissioner"
proposed in the Bill should be entitled the "Commissioner
for Scotland" and that the post-holder be the First Minister
of Scotland.
5. Further, we believe that the Crown Estate
Commissioners, as a body with no democratic accountability in
Scotland should not be involved in the important future management
of the Scottish Crown Estate. Responsibility for the management
and revenues of all Scotland's Crown property rights on land and
sea should come together under the full jurisdiction of the Scottish
Parliament.
6. Members of the Scottish Affairs Committee
are in a pivotal position that can influence the course of history
and the Nation looks to you to serve us well. History awaits this
decision.
January 2011
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