Crofting law omission from government programme criticised

The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) has criticised the Scottish government for not incorporating their legislation into the official programme for government.

The crofter representation body has called it “shocking” that Rural Minister Fergus Ewing said legislation was unlikely to proceed this parliament.

The Scottish Government states that the dropping of the Crofting Bill this parliament was due to implications of the Brexit situation.

Disappointment

“It came as a disappointment to see that crofting legislation did not appear on the Scottish Government’s ‘Programme for Government’ for this year“, said Yvonne White, chair of SCF.

“But the announcement by Fergus Ewing that it is unlikely to proceed through parliament at all this session is shocking. Mr Ewing gave the clear commitment on many occasions that the first phase of the legislation, the really important stuff that affects crofters’ day-to-day lives, would be dealt with in this parliamentary session."

A Scottish government spokesperson said: ”We remain absolutely committed to supporting a thriving crofting sector. Last year, this government approved and provided croft businesses with over £46m.

“We understand the frustration arising from there being no crofting bill scheduled for this year. However, we are having to deal with the implications and uncertainties around Brexit and the impact on parliamentary time and resources this has had in preparing Scotland for a no-deal Brexit which no one wants and which threatens to do huge damage to Scotland’s crofting and farming sector.”