Emma Roddick has welcomed the progress of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and called on the Scottish Government to ensure that the Bill provides adequate support to community groups who wish to take ownership of land.

Ms Roddick highlighted the importance of the Bill in supporting community groups to own and manage land for the benefit of local people.

The Bill’s provisions to give community groups advance notice of land sales would also aid in tackling rural depopulation, an issue still far too common in the Highlands and Islands.

She said:

“Land reform is an essential step towards creating a fairer and more equitable Scotland.

“The Land Reform Bill has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of people across the country, particularly in rural and island communities. I am pleased to see it progressing through Parliament, and I will continue to push for it to go as far as possible in empowering communities to take control of their own land.

“It is vital that the Bill provides sufficient funding and resources to support community groups through the process of acquiring and managing land. This will help to ensure that land reform delivers real benefits for communities across Scotland, showing once again the wide-ranging benefits of having an SNP Government in Scotland.”