2016 No. 250 (C. 21)

Land Reform

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitory Provisions) Regulations 2016

Made

Laid before the Scottish Parliament

Coming into force

The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 130(2), (3) and (4) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 20161 and all other powers enabling them to do so.

Citation, commencement and interpretation1

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitory Provisions) Regulations 2016 and come into force on 1st November 2016.

2

In these Regulations—

  • the Act” means the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016;

  • the Commission” means the Scottish Land Commission.

Appointed days2

1

1st November 2016 is the day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions of the Act specified in column 1 of the table in schedule 1 (the subject matter of which is described in column 2 of that table).

2

Where a purpose is specified in column 3 of that table in relation to any provision specified in column 1, that provision comes into force on 1st November 2016 only for that purpose.

3

1st April 2017 is the day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions of the Act specified in column 1 of the table in schedule 2 (the subject matter of which is described in column 2 of that table).

4

1st October 2017 is the day appointed for the coming into force of section 22(3)(a)(i) of the Act (functions of the Land Commissioners).

Transitory provision: function of the Commission and members of the Commission3

1

Paragraphs (2) to (4) apply for the period beginning with 1st November 2016 and ending with 31st March 2017.

2

The function of the Commission is to make such preparations and arrangements as are appropriate and practicable so that the Commission may perform its functions under section 6 of the Act from 1st April 2017.

3

The function of any member of the Commission appointed during the period referred to in paragraph (1) is to make such preparations and arrangements as are appropriate and practicable so that that member may perform his or her functions under section 22 or, as the case may be, 24 of the Act from 1st April 2017.

4

For the purposes of—

a

sections 7(1)(a)(i), 15(4) and 17(1)(a), (2) and (3) of the Act, the references to the functions of the Commission in those provisions are to be read as if they were to the function set out in paragraph (2);

b

sections 7(1)(a)(ii) and (iii), 13(2)(e) and 17(1)(b) and (c) of the Act, the references to the functions of the members of the Commission in those provisions are to be read as if they were to the function set out in paragraph (3); and

c

sections 14(1)(b) and 17(5)(b) of the Act, the references to the functions of the Commission and the members of the Commission in those provisions are to be read as if they were to the functions set out in paragraphs (2) and (3) respectively.

Transitory provision: first financial year4

1

For the purposes of sections 19 and 20 of the Act, the first financial year of the Commission is the period beginning with 1st November 2016 and ending with 31st March 2018.

2

For the purposes of section 20(1)(a) and (3) of the Act and the first financial year, the functions referred to in those provisions are to be read as if they referred to—

a

in respect of the period beginning with 1st November 2016 and ending with 31st March 2017, the functions referred to in regulation 3(2) and(3); and

b

in respect of the period beginning with 1st April 2017 and ending with 31st March 2018, the functions referred to in sections 6, 22 and 24 of the Act.

ROSEANNA CUNNINGHAMA member of the Scottish GovernmentSt Andrew’s House,Edinburgh

SCHEDULE 1PROVISIONS OF THE ACT COMING INTO FORCE ON 1ST NOVEMBER 2016

Regulation 2(1) and (2)

Column 1

Provisions of the Act

Column 2

Subject matter

Column 3

Purpose

Section 4(1) to (5)

The Scottish Land Commission

Section 5

Status

Section 7

General powers

Section 10

Membership

Section 11

Eligibility for appointment

Section 12(1), (2), (3)(a), (4) and (5)

Disqualification from membership

Section 12(3)(b)

Disqualification from membership

For the purpose of a tenancy under sections 4 or 5 of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003

Section 13

Resignation and removal

Section 14

Remuneration, allowances and pensions

Section 15

Staff

Section 16

Validity of things done

Section 17

Committees

Section 18

Regulation of procedure

Section 19

Accounts

Section 20

Annual report

Section 21(1)

Application of legislation relating to public bodies: ethical standards in public life

Section 21(2)

Application of legislation relating to public bodies: freedom of information

Section 44

Guidance on engaging communities in decisions relating to land

SCHEDULE 2PROVISIONS OF THE ACT COMING INTO FORCE ON 1ST APRIL 2017

Regulation 2(3)

Column 1

Provisions of the Act

Column 2

Subject matter

Section 4(6) to (8)

The Scottish Land Commission

Section 6

Functions of the Commission

Section 8

Strategic plan

Section 9

Programme of work

Section 21(3)

Application of legislation relating to public bodies: public services reform

Section 22(1), (2), (3)(a)(ii) and (iii) and (b), (4) and (5)

Functions of the Land Commissioners

Section 23

Land Commissioners: delegation of functions

Section 24

Functions of the Tenant Farming Commissioner

Section 25

Tenant Farming Commissioner: delegation of functions

Section 26

Acting Tenant Farming Commissioner

Section 27(1), (2)(a) to (f) and (h) to (i) and (3) to (9)

Tenant Farming Commissioner: codes of practice

Section 28

Tenant Farming Commissioner: promotion of codes of practice

Section 29

Application to inquire into breach of code of practice

Section 30

Procedure for inquiry

Section 31

Enforcement powers

Section 32

Notice of non-compliance penalty

Section 33

Report on inquiry

Section 34

Tenant Farming Commissioner: confidentiality of information

Section 35

Protection from actions for defamation

Section 36

Report on agents of landlords and tenants

Section 37

Recommendations by Tenant Farming Commissioner for modern list of improvements

Section 38

Referral of questions of law by Tenant Farming Commissioner to Land Court

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision in relation to bringing into force particular sections of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 (“the Act”).

Regulation 2(1) and schedule 1 appoint 1st November 2016 for the coming into force of the provisions listed there. Regulation 2(2) provides that where a purpose is specified in the third column of the table in schedule 1 the associated provision comes into force only for that purpose. The subject matter of the provisions commenced by schedule 1 are: partial commencement of the Scottish Land Commission and commencement of section 44 of the Act on engaging communities in decisions relating to land.

Regulation 2(3) and schedule 2 appoint 1st April 2017 for the coming into force of the sections listed there, which relate to the Scottish Land Commission. Regulation 2(4) appoints 1st October 2017 for the coming into force of section 22(3)(a)(i) as this is the date when the Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement under Part 1 of the Act must be published and laid before the Scottish Parliament.

Regulation 3 makes provision so that during the period before the Scottish Land Commission is fully commenced the Commission and any Commissioners appointed have the function of getting ready for the point at which they are required to perform their respective full functions under the Act.

Regulation 4 provides that the first financial year runs from 1st November 2016 until 31st March 2018 so that accounting and reporting includes the period during which the Commission is setting up.

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT REGULATIONS

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The following provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 have been brought into force by commencement regulations made before the date of these Regulations.

Provisions of the Act

Date of Commencement

Instrument No.

Sections 1 and 2

1st October 2016

2016/193

Section 3

1st October 2017

2016/193

Sections 74 to 82

28th June 2016

2016/193