Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill

The Bill amends the law on crofting and merges the Scottish Land Court and Lands Tribunal for Scotland.

This is a Government bill

The Bill was introduced on 2 June 2025 and is at Stage 1

Stage: Introduced Stage: Stage 1 Stage: Stage 2 Stage: Stage 3 Stage: Act

This Bill is at Stage 1 of the process to decide if it should become an Act.

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Overview

The Bill is in two main parts.

Part 1 deals with crofting.

This part of the Bill makes various changes to the law on crofting. It will amend the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 and the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. It introduces changes to the enforcement of crofters’ duties, the powers of the Crofting Commission, common grazings, and the Crofting Register.

Part 2 merges the Scottish Land Court and Lands Tribunal for Scotland.

It sets out the transfer to the Scottish Land Court of:

the jurisdiction and functions of the Lands Tribunal
any proceedings or matters in the process of being heard or determined by the Tribunal, its staff, property, rights, liabilities and obligations

It also makes arrangement for the Court’s constitution, jurisdiction and powers.

Further information on what the Bill does is available in the Explanatory Notes.

Why the Bill was created

The Scottish Government has introduced the Bill to:

simplify crofting law
streamline administrative processes
facilitate active crofting on the inbye and common grazing land
make crofting regulation less onerous for active crofters
strengthen the role of grazings committees
make other changes for which there is consistent support across crofting communities

The Scottish Government has also introduced the Bill to deliver a more coherent and efficient administration of the services that the Land Court and the Lands Tribunal currently offer. The Government also hopes it will retain the tradition and history of the Land Court of serving the crofting and wider agricultural community.

All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:

Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.

Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.

Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.

Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.

Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.

Additional information from the Scottish Government at introduction

Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 - Keeling schedule (6MB, pdf) posted 02 June 2025

A Keeling schedule is a schedule to a bill which reproduces the provisions of an earlier Act of Parliament and shows the effect of the bill on that Act. It is usually added as an appendix to the proposed amendment.

Research on the Bill

The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.

A research briefing will be published in due course.

The Bill was introduced on 2 June 2025

At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.

Lead committee examines the Bill

The lead committee for this Bill is the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee.

The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.

Call for views (open)

The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee opened a call for views to help inform its examination of the Bill.

Read the call for views
Bile na Croitearachd agus Cùirt an Fhearainn

Meetings of the lead committee

11 June 2025

Watch the meeting on Scottish Parliament TV

Read the agenda, papers and minutes for this meeting

Stage 1 report by the lead committee

The lead committee will publish a Stage 1 report before the debate on the general principles of the Bill.

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill

Introduced: the Bill and its documents

Overview

Why the Bill was created

Bill as Introduced

Accompanying Documents

Accompanying Documents (print versions)