SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has described the new Crofting Bill as an ‘important step forward’ in reforming crofting law. He welcomed the government’s commitment that further legislation will be forthcoming in the next Parliament.
Yesterday, MSPs passed the Bill at Stage 1, with proposed amendments to be considered by the Rural Affairs Committee at the start of next month.
The bill’s measures include the expansion of Crofting Commission powers, streamlining the administration of crofting duties, amendments to the Crofting Register, and enabling more use of digital communications between crofters and the Commission. It also introduces provisions for the environmental use of crofts and common grazings, and sets out the definitions of both a ‘Crofting Community’ and an ‘owner-occupier’. It also merges the Scottish Land Court and Lands Tribunal for Scotland.
Commenting yesterday, Alasdair Allan MSP said:
“I was pleased to see this Bill pass Stage 1 yesterday. This will allow for further consideration at Stage 2 by the committee of which I am a member. I have several amendment I am seeking to lodge to further strengthen this bill, and it has been very helpful indeed to engage with both constituents and with the Scottish Crofting Federation on these. It goes without saying that crofting is of fundamental importance to our islands’ culture, local economy and environment.
“While it is outwith the scope of this bill, we must see future legislation tackle the issues created by the marketisation of crofts in recent years. As the Minister said in November last year, the present bill “prepares the ground for what comes next”, helping increase residency levels and active croft use, to allow consideration of what is needed thereafter to increase the number of new entrants into crofting and sustain support for existing crofters. I would like to thank the Minister for his robust engagement on this bill, both with me directly and with the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee as a whole to date.”
Information about the Bill as introduced, and the next steps, can be found here.
