Scottish Government
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Safeguarding the future of crofting
Measures to ensure crofting survives as a way of life have been unveiled.
The Crofting Reform Bill, published yesterday, will tackle absenteeism, neglect and speculation and protect crofting for future generations.
The Bill's key points are:
- action to address speculation on croft land through robust assessment of applications to take land out of crofting
- a more accountable and democratic Crofters Commission by making the majority of members crofters elected by crofters
- a duty on the Commission to tackle absenteeism and neglect.
- a new, definitive map-based croft register (with estimated costs to crofters reduced from £250 to between £80 and £130)
Launching the Bill at a croft in Inverness-shire, Ms Cunningham said:
"Crofting is a vital part of Scotland's social, geographical and cultural make-up yet it's very existence is under threat. Absenteeism is running at ten per cent and more and more quality land is being removed from crofting tenure.
"There is consensus that something has to be done to reverse this decline and, while there have undoubtedly been differences of opinion about how best to do it, much progress has been made in recent months to reach agreement on a way forward.
"This Bill does not shy away from the issues that need to be addressed and sets out measures that will ensure crofting not only survives but thrives in the 21st century."
