PART 2The Scottish Land Commission
CHAPTER 2The Land Commissioners
Functions of the Land Commissioners
22Functions of the Land Commissioners
(1)
The functions of the Land Commissioners are, on any matter relating to land in Scotland—
(a)
to review the impact and effectiveness of any law or policy,
(b)
to recommend changes to any law or policy,
(c)
to gather evidence,
(d)
to carry out research,
(e)
to prepare reports,
(f)
to provide information and guidance.
(2)
The Land Commissioners must consider and advise on any such matter as the Scottish Ministers may refer to them.
(3)
In exercising their functions the Land Commissioners must—
(a)
have regard to—
(i)
the land rights and responsibilities statement prepared under section 1 or revised under section 2,
(ii)
the strategic plan prepared under section 8,
(iii)
the programme of work prepared under section 9,
(b)
collaborate with the Tenant Farming Commissioner.
(4)
In so far as the exercise of their functions relates to agriculture and agricultural holdings, the Land Commissioners must have regard to the exercise of the Tenant Farming Commissioner's functions conferred by section 24.
(5)
In this section a “matter relating to land in Scotland” includes—
(a)
ownership and other rights in land,
(b)
management of land,
(c)
use of land,
(d)
the land use strategy prepared under section 57 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 F1,
(e)
the effects of natural capital markets in relation to other matters relating to land in Scotland F2,
(f)
the relationship between scale and concentrations of land holdings and local economic development,
(g)
the desirability of achieving a more diverse pattern of landownership comprising more landowners and different types of landowners,
(h)
measures to prevent depopulation and support the repopulation of land and the sustainability of communities.
F3(6)
In subsection (5) “natural capital market” means the trading of units or credits which are generated through a registration scheme for projects to restore or improve the natural environment.