Commission's Inverness move will create 20 new jobs
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TWENTY new jobs are set to be created in Inverness after the government announced the city is to be the home of a new land management quango.
The Scottish Land Commission is to be based at Longman House. Established as part of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, it will review law and policy and make recommendations to ministers on a host of land use issues.
Covering both urban and rural Scotland, its remit will include ownership issues, land rights and management. Alongside five other commissioners there will be one member specifically dedicated to tenant farming issues.
Land reform secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: "Land reform is a journey and we are determined to ensure all of the people of Scotland can benefit from our land.
"The Land Reform (Scotland) Act was a significant milestone and delivered a number of important changes.
"The legislation paved the way for setting up a new Scottish Land Commission which will help to ensure that we continue to progress with land reform and I am delighted to confirm it will be based in Inverness.
"This will provide approximately 20 new jobs in the area while providing a base that is easily accessible for all parts of Scotland.
"The city location symbolises that land reform is no longer an exclusively rural issue – we want to see people in our towns and cities reap the benefits of land reform too.
"The commission will have an important role reviewing policy and legislation, help to influence future developments relating to the ownership of Scotland’s land and how we ensure communities across Scotland realise their potential."
The commission will be headed by Scottish Government civil servant Hilary Pearce acting as interim chief executive until summer 2017 on a salary up to £69,380.
