§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the members of the Scottish Office Committee to investigate land policy in Scotland, and the grade, department and relevant area of expertise of the civil servant members; and if he will make a statement. [15735]
§ Mr. Dewar[holding answer 17 November 1997]The Land Reform Policy Group is chaired by my noble Friend the Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Fisheries; the Minister for Education and Industry and my special adviser Murray Elder also attend when available. In other core membership comprises the following officials of The Scottish Office and the Forestry Commission:
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Grade Department Area Isabelle Low Senior Civil Service Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department Land Use Division Alan Fraser Senior Civil Service Education and Industry Department Enterprise and Tourism Division John Randall Senior Civil Service Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department Rural Affairs and Natural Heritage Unit Douglas Greig Senior Civil Service/Chief Economist Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department Economics and Statistics Division Hugh MacDiarmid Senior Civil Service Home Department Solicitor's Office
Grade Department Area Joyce Lugton Grade 7 Home Department Civil Law and Legal Aid Division David Henderson-Howat Chief Conservator Forestry Commission Angela Saunders (Secretariat) Senior Executive Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department Land Use Division Professor John Bryden of Aberdeen University, who has long experience of land tenure issues, acts as external assessor. The group also draws upon the relevant expertise of other officials as required, and upon the useful body of knowledge and literature produced by organisations that have devoted considerable time and effort to these issues.