Scottish ministers are looking for UK government support to make the Crown Estate more accountable.

On Sunday, members of the Scottish parliament raised concerns with the coalition government over the Crown Estate’s lack of accountability to Scottish ministers despite its managing of the whole seabed up to 12 miles from shore and several land assets.

Discussions are now underway between UK and Scottish leaders to determine how the Crown Estate is managed in Scotland. Scotland wants communities rather than profit to be a higher priority for the Crown Estate there.

A highly critical UK Treasury Select Committee report in March recommended the Crown Estate strengthen its management within Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament’s rural affairs and environment secretary Richard Lochhead said Scottish people where not seeing enough of the benefits from money raised by the Crown Estate in Scotland.

“The people of Scotland should benefit from our marine and natural resources yet, despite the arrival of devolution over a decade ago, the Crown Estate remains unaccountable to Scotland,” he said.

“It is time for the Crown Estate to deliver greater benefits to Scotland and our communities.

“We must ensure that Scottish communities see more benefits from the revenues generated on their doorstep.

“The fact that a UK body like the Crown Estate controls our seabed when the flow of all other marine powers are going in the opposite direction is out of step with modern and progressive political arrangements.”

Meetings have already begun between Scottish government officials and their Crown Estate and UK government counterparts to explore options.

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