The Countryside (Scotland) Act of 1967 revisited

The recent opening-up of the policy and precedent files relating to the promotion of the Countryside (Scotland) Act of 1967 provides opportunity for re-assessing the significance and character of the debates leading up to the first explicit provision for what the Preamble to the Act described as 'the better enjoyment of the Scottish countryside'. More generally, insight may be gained into the procedures and preoccupations of the 'core executive' of government, as they effect the 'networking' required for securing the support of the relevant user-interests during the consultative and drafting stages of such legislation.