Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 8 May 2024.
Foysol Choudhury
Labour
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to incorporate the ownership and management of community assets in urban areas into its Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. (S6O-03388)
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill sets out ambitious proposals that will change for the better how land is owned and managed in our rural and island communities. I appreciate that one size and, indeed, one bill most definitely does not fit all. The Government recognises the need to continue to develop policies and programmes for land in urban areas that reflect local needs and priorities. That is why, in March, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands announced a review of the community rights to buy to look at how effective our current powers are in urban and rural areas.
Foysol Choudhury
Labour
In 2020, after the Heart of Newhaven primary school was closed, a community asset transfer brought the building into public ownership, allowing it to serve its area as a community hub. Local engagement is so important, yet the provisions on community engagement in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill apply only to holdings that are thousands of hectares. Can the Minister advise how the Scottish Government will ensure good use of areas of land that are smaller than those that are mentioned in the bill?
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
I absolutely take on board the point that Foysol Choudhury raises. The regeneration investment programme is supporting communities to develop and take ownership of land and assets across Scotland. To date, over £265 million has been invested through the regeneration capital grant fund, supporting nearly 230 community-led projects, and almost £27 million has been invested through the vacant and derelict land investment programme. That programme has brought back into use just over 112 hectares of persistent vacant and derelict land.
We will continue to deliver the vacant and derelict land fund. Five eligible councils are currently receiving a share of £7.65 million in 2023-24, and a figure of £5 million is planned for 2024-25.
Rachael Hamilton
Conservative
Although we want communities to benefit from land ownership, it must be done in a way that is fair and proportionate. How will the Scottish Government determine when the lotting of land is in the public interest? What steps will the Minister take to ensure that the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill complies with existing property rights?
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
The Cabinet secretary is taking through the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, and I am answering on her behalf, so I apologise if I do not give a full answer.
My understanding at this stage is that the Government was looking at a figure of over 1,000 hectares—it might be 3,000. I cannot honestly give the right numbers for that, but I know that the cabinet secretary has been looking at the issue, so we can get a fuller answer to the member in writing.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
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It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
