Crown Estate in Scotland

Consultation for establishing interim body to manage Crown Estate.

The programme of work to secure devolved control of the Crown Estate in Scotland continued today, with the launch of an eight week consultation seeking views on the interim management arrangements.

Interim management arrangements are necessary to ensure a smooth transition and continuity to Crown Estate staff, tenants and other customers. Views are now being sought on how that interim body should be managed.

Later in the year, the Scottish Government will seek views and engage stakeholders on how best to devolve and manage these assets for the benefit of all of Scotland in the long term.

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham said:

“Control over the management and resources of the Crown Estate in Scotland should rest with the people of Scotland and today marks the formal start of the devolution of one of the key elements in the Scotland Act 2016.

“Establishing the interim body is only the beginning of the transfer journey for the Crown Estate in Scotland. To ensure continuity and to meet timescales, we need to set up a temporary arrangement. That will give us all the space and time we need to consider how best to manage these vital assets for our long term, future benefit.

“This consultation is the first opportunity to help shape the devolved management of the Crown Estate in Scotland.

“I would encourage all those interested in helping us to assume its new powers in a way which creates solutions which meet Scotland’s needs and interests to respond to the consultation.”

Notes to editors

Scottish Ministers propose to set up a new interim public body using powers provided in the Scotland Act 2016 to lay a statutory instrument (SSI) at the Scottish Parliament which would be completed through an Order in Council. This will enable the transfer to be completed by the UK Government so Scotland can assume the powers in April 2017.

The consultation on the proposals will run until Friday 26 August 2016. Details can be found on the Scottish Government website at: https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/crown-estate-strategy-unit/manage-the-crown-estate-assets

Additionally, a Section 3(3) Order has been laid in Parliament that will allow the Commissioner for Ethical standards in Public Life to regulate appointments to the Board of the new interim body prior to it being formally established.

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