Wednesday 25 July 2012

Land Reform...?



Extracts from Scottish Government web site page here
'A radical review of land reform will deliver a more successful Scotland with stronger communities and economic growth, First Minister Alex Salmond said today.
Speaking in Skye where a summer cabinet meeting was convened, Mr Salmond revealed details of a new Land Reform Review Group that will oversee a wide ranging review of land reform in Scotland.
Dr Alison Elliot, who has extensive experience working in the community and voluntary sector, will chair the group. She will be joined by Professor James Hunter and Dr Sarah Skerratt as vice chairpeople, who have experience of the Highlands and Islands and rural development.
A further 10 advisers – with expertise in areas such as property and land issues, economics, legal issues, community-led organisations, landownership, forestry and access – will also be appointed to the group shortly.
It is anticipated that the Land Reform Review Group will report in a series of stages to Scottish Ministers, providing consideration of what the outcomes of land reform should be and what reforms are required. By the end of 2013 the Scottish Government would expect a report on any legislative changes that are required to allow this to be taken forward.

...An 'Overview of Evidence on Land Reform in Scotland' research paper is published today. It surveyed all existing evidence relating to a number of aspects of land reform, and highlights a number of issues that are of particular relevance to the Land Reform Review. The report is available at: Overview of Evidence on Land Reform in Scotland

And from the Highland Council web site page here:
The Leader of The Highland Council, Drew Hendry, has welcomed news that the Scottish Government is to commission a review of land reform in Scotland.

Councillor Hendry said: “This is another very positive move by the Scottish Government to promote the future success of the Highlands and Scotland.  The Council’s Programme for the next five years focuses strongly on working together for the economy and working together for strong and safe communities so we are well placed to assist the review team in identifying the radical changes that the First Minister is seeking.”

Councillor Hendry was in Skye to meet with the First Minister ahead of the summer cabinet meeting in Portree on Tuesday.

He said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government has once again chosen to hold a cabinet meeting in the Highlands, with Skye hosting a meeting for a second time.  This demonstrates the Scottish Government’s keen interest in our very special area.”

ASIDE:

I wonder how many HC elected members will be throwing their hats into the ring for the next Parliamentary elections?  



Tuesday 24 July 2012

Where would I be without the BBC...?





...Well, without BBC radio 4 at least.


There seems to be a lot of thought provoking stuff in the R 4 schedules this month.  Here are a few things that have 'caught my ear':



Helena Kennedy QC presents a series uncovering the relationship between the UK's financial and legal systems, between capitalism and the law and between freedom and justice
PROGRAMMES:
on BBC iPlayer (1)
coming up (1)
PREVIOUS PROGRAMMES:
by year (4)

'Stephanomics'

Stephanie Flanders presents a series on the economics of our times
PROGRAMMES:
on BBC iPlayer (5)
coming up (3)
PREVIOUS PROGRAMMES:
by series (2)
by year (6)


Tim Harford explains - and sometimes debunks - the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life
PROGRAMMES:
on BBC iPlayer (69)
coming up (2)
PREVIOUS PROGRAMMES:
by year (99)

'Unbuilt Britain'

Architectural writer and historian Jonathan Glancey looks at the great building projects of Britain that never made it off the drawing board
PROGRAMMES:
on BBC iPlayer (1)
coming up (3)
PREVIOUS PROGRAMMES:
by year (5)
(On every day this week)

'Does Science need the People'
Who should decide on whether funding for things like GM, nanotechnology, embryonic stem cell research or particle physics goes ahead? At the moment most of the money for science lies with the research councils, to whom scientists go cap in hand year after year. That's around 3 billion pounds of public money. So should the public have more of a say?


And here are a few things that I just missed out on


Programme exploring the limits and potential of the human mind
PROGRAMMES:
on BBC iPlayer (96)
PREVIOUS PROGRAMMES:
by year (97)


26/06/2012

MORE:
programme information
related links
chapters
(28 minutes)
Available since Tue, 26 Jun 2012.
Richard Mabey on depressive illness, ecotherapy, and the evidence for 'green therapy'.



Long-running legal magazine programme, featuring reports and discussion on matters relating to law

And a couple of  things I'll go back and listen to:

Stephanie Flanders sets out on the search for growth in Britain's economy
PROGRAMMES:
on BBC iPlayer (2)
PREVIOUS PROGRAMMES:
by year (2)


Michael Blastland lays out the history of economic ideas to understand why economics goes wrong and whether it can ever go entirely right
PROGRAMMES:
on BBC iPlayer (3)
PREVIOUS PROGRAMMES:
by year (3)