More to farm tenants issue

Sir, – Nancy Nicolson’s article “Landlords reprimanded over poor practice in negotiations” (The Courier, July 19) notably failed to reflect the overall findings of the report, but also the view of Buccleuch who were the subject of the review.

Tenant farming commissioner Dr Bob McIntosh makes clear that we acted in compliance with agricultural legislation and did not conclude that we had bullied tenants during negotiations – nor found evidence to substantiate such an allegation.

Whilst in one case the commissioner gave credit to the estate for giving the tenants six months’ notice of the ending of the SLDT, which was beyond what was legally required, we accept his comments that the manner in which we finalised negotiations with this tenant could have been handled more sensitively.

As we made clear in our statement published on Wednesday July 18, which was not featured in The Courier’s article, Buccleuch takes its responsibilities to tenant farmers very seriously.

We accept the findings of the tenant farming commissioner who states in his report that there are lessons for landlords and tenants alike when it comes to negotiations around the end of fixed term farm tenancies.

We are also pleased that the commissioner recognised we had tried to find alternative solutions for tenants coming to the end of Limited Partnership agreements.

John Glen.

Chief Executive, Buccleuch, 27 Silvermills Court, Henderson Place Lane, Edinburgh.

So Holyrood (that involves you and me) takes money away from those in the military earning above £33,000, but Westminster (that involves you and me too) gives it straight back to them. Why give the Scottish parliament the powers to raise and lower taxation if it is then to be treated in such a disdainful way?