Rural Payments and Services

New appointment to build relationships

An independent advisor on tenant farming is to be appointed by the Scottish Government, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has announced.

The short term role will be created as an interim measure until legislation can be brought forward to establish a Tenant Farming Commissioner with statutory powers – one of the main recommendations of the recent Agricultural Holdings Legislation Review.

Giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) Committee, Mr Lochhead confirmed the independent advisor will work with the three main tenant farming industry bodies as sector reforms are taken forward.

The Rural Affairs Secretary said:

“A vibrant and healthy tenant farming sector is crucial for the future of Scottish agriculture and food production. To achieve this, positive and productive tenant and landlord relationships are key.

“Significant progress building a constructive approach was made during the Agricultural Holdings Legislation Review. We must not lose momentum and go back to the way things were, and industry are keen to have a Tenant Farming Commissioner in post as soon as possible.

“As this will require legislation to be brought forward, I have therefore decided to appoint in the interim an independent advisor on tenant farming, to promote co-operation and find common ground among industry bodies on proposed areas for change in the sector. Work is underway to identify a suitable candidate.

“The Scottish Government is still considering how best to take forward the findings of the Review, some of which will require legislation. Subject to the will of Parliament, I see this independent advisor as a forerunner to a Tenant Farming Commissioner, which was one of the Review’s main recommendations.”