This report examines the Crown Estate Commissioner's management of the Crown property, rights and interests which make up the Crown Estate in Scotland. The Commissioner's operations in Scotland can be split into two categories: ancient possessions/responsibilities and modern activities relating to the buying, selling and management of property and land. The evidence identified major issues, particularly in relation to the seabed and the foreshore: including lack of accountability, lack of communication and consultation with local communities, the inappropriateness of the Commissioner's remit for its responsibilities in the marine environment, the cash leakage from local economies and other adverse impacts. There were no such problems in relation to the management of urban and rural estate. The Commissioner's responsibilities for the seabed, the foreshore and other ancient rights in Scotland should be devolved then decentralized as far as possible. Devolution to Holyrood should be conditional upon agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Scottish Government on how such a scheme of subsidiarity to local authority and local community levels should be implemented. This report also sets out how different arrangements could be made for each of the Scottish Crown property rights and responsibilities. Further consultation should proceed on the basis of proposals set out by the Highlands and Islands local authorities, which provides a clear framework on which to base discussion.

management of the Crown Estate : Eighth report of session 2009-10, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal Minutes

The Crown Estate manages most of Scotland's foreshore and seabed and runs it for the benefit of the UK Treasury. Two years ago, the Committee recommended that these Crown property rights and interests, which are not the personal property of the Monarch but are held in trust for the nation, should be decentralised as far as possible. The Government rejected the Committee's main proposals, but agreed to a little tinkering and set up a fund to help coastal communities. The Committee has now revisited their previous report (HCP 1117, session 2010/12, ISBN 9780215042989), and taken new evidence. The Committee states that they are even more convinced that decentralisation is essential if local communities are to benefit from the development of these assets. The Committee remains convinced that the transfer of these assets from an over-centralised London to an over-centralising Edinburgh would not be sufficient, and that local people and local authorities should be given primacy in determining how these assets should be developed and how financial benefits should be distributed.

Report on the responses to the consultation on the Long Term Management of the Crown Estate in Scotland.

Additional written evidence is contained in Vol. 3, available on the Committee's website at www.parliament.uk/treascom

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