Wightman: Ministers must go further on information accessibility
Following his debate this evening (12 March), Scottish Greens Land Reform spokesperson Andy Wightman MSP has welcomed confirmation from the Minister for the Digital Economy that the Scottish Government will review the costs associated with accessing some information.
However, Mr Wightman highlighted that Ministers must go much further to ensure that citizens are able to access important information on the ownership, use and value of land.
Andy Wightman MSP said:
“It is something of a contradiction that Scotland has the oldest national public register of land, yet today it has a system of land registration and land information that is poor by international standards and where it is next to impossible to obtain critical information easily and quickly.
“For far too long, the people of Scotland have been unable to find out information about who owns their country and about the value and use of land and property.
“Citizens have the right to openness and transparency in relation to information held by public authorities about land. It is their right and it is the responsibility of this Parliament and Scottish Ministers to ensure that its stated policy goals are delivered on time and in full.
“I welcome confirmation from the Minister that she will seek to address some of the charges associated with obtaining information, however there must be a more fundamental look at how data can be made more readily accessible.”