Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016

Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016

2016 asp 18

Commentary on Sections

Part 2 – the Scottish Land Commission

Chapter 1 – the Commission

Membership

Section 10 – Membership

19. Section 44(4) of the Act provides that the members of the Commission are to be five Land Commissioners and one Tenant Farming Commissioner. Section 10 sets out the procedure for the appointment of the members of the Commission.

20. Under subsection (2), the Scottish Parliament has to approve the appointment of the members. Section 11(4) sets out that when an appointment is referred to the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Ministers must lay a statement before the Scottish Parliament as to how they have complied with the appointment duties set out in section 11. The Scottish Ministers will determine the appointment period for each member and the appointment can last up to five years (subsection (3)). Sections 11 to 13 contain particular conditions regarding the appointment of members, but otherwise the Commission, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, is free to determine the terms and conditions of appointment under subsection (4). Subsection (5) allows the Scottish Ministers to re-appoint an existing or previous member and subsection (7) places a duty on the Scottish Ministers to select one of the Land Commissioners to chair the Commission.