Section 9 – Programme of work
18.In addition to the strategic plan required under section 8, section 9 imposes a duty on the Land Commissioners to prepare a programme of work to set out information on the proposed reviews into the impact and effectiveness of any law or policy under section 22(1)(a), information about other activities being undertaken by the Land Commissioners and the timetable for the programme of work. The programme of work must be submitted to the Scottish Ministers by the Commission on behalf of the Land Commissioners at the same time as the strategic plan, but the Scottish Ministers cannot reject the programme of work. There is no duty on Scottish Ministers to comment upon the programme of work and no duty on the Commissioners to take into account any direction or comment made by the Scottish Ministers. The Commission must then publish the programme of work and lay a copy before the Scottish Parliament. Subsection (4) enables the Commission to submit a revised programme of work to Ministers and subsection (5) places a duty on the Commission to publish and lay before the Scottish Parliament any revised programme.
