{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/hill-farming-act-1946/section-24",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/hill-farming-act-1946/section-24.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/Geo6/9-10/73",
  "legislation_title": "Hill Farming Act 1946",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/hill-farming-act-1946",
  "path": "section/24",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "24",
  "heading": "Right of tenant to make muirburn notwithstanding terms of lease.",
  "text": "(1) Where the tenant of any land is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient for the purpose of conserving or improving that land to make muirburn thereon, it shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and Part 2 of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024, be lawful for him to make muirburn thereon notwithstanding any provision in the lease of such land prohibiting, whether absolutely or subject to conditions, or restricting in any way, the making of muirburn.\n(2) Not less than twenty-eight days before so making muirburn the tenant shall give notice to the proprietor of the land of the places at which, and the approximate extent to which he proposes to make muirburn; and if the proprietor is dissatisfied as to the places at which, or the extent to which the tenant proposes to make muirburn, he shall, within seven days after the receipt of the intimation from the tenant, give notice to the tenant stating the grounds of his dissatisfaction and shall refer the matter to the Secretary of State for his decision, and pending such decision the tenant shall not proceed with the operation of muirburn with respect to which reference has been so made.\n(2A) Notice by a tenant to a proprietor of land under subsection (2)—\n(a) must be in writing; and\n(b) may be given to any person purporting to be authorised by the proprietor to receive the notice.\n(3) On any reference under the foregoing subsection the Secretary of State, after such inquiry as he may think fit, and after considering any representations made by the parties interested, shall give such directions as he may deem proper regulating the muirburn, and it shall thereupon be lawful for the tenant to make muirburn in accordance with the direction. Any direction given by the Secretary of State under this subsection shall be final.\n(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 24(1) inserted (15.9.2026) by Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (asp 4), ss. 23(3)(a), 35(2) (with s. 30); S.S.I. 2026/200, reg. 3(2), sch. Pt. 2 (with reg. 5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 24(2A) inserted (1.8.2011) by Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6), ss. 34(5), 43(1) (with s. 41(1)); S.S.I. 2011/279, art. 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 24(4) repealed (16.6.2025) by Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 (asp 11), s. 38(2), sch. 2 Pt. 1; S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2, sch."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/9-10/73/section/24",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T11:24:39.477390+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}