MATHER WELCOMES CROFTING BILL CHANGES

SNP says it is "COMMITTED TO CROFTING FUTURE"

Jim Mather MSP, Argyll & Bute has welcomed the announcement from his colleague, Roseanna Cunningham, MSP, the Minister responsible for Crofting issues to heed advice from crofters and to remove draft plans for a residency requirement on decrofted houses from her Crofting Bill.
Jim Mather said:
"This is further proof that this Scottish Government listens.
This time it is listening to crofters, and ensuring we get a crofting bill that reflects their genuine needs. The SNP has always maintained that we will pay attention to the needs of our communities. Nobody disputes the need to tackle the speculation of croft land, and it is now for everyone with an interest in crofting to produce measures that are workable.
After much lobbying from elected members in the crofting areas and from crofters' interests and from others, the Minister has indicated that the residency requirement in the draft bill will not now appear in the Bill itself. That is the occupancy requirement, widely criticised for placing an unworkable role on local authorities, who would have to determine whether those living on decrofted land were doing so for 184 days a year.
As Roseanna Cunningham has stated, doing nothing about the problem of speculation is not a viable option. However, her willingness to redraft the legislation about this measure reflects well both on her, and on the many crofters and others who made their feelings known to her throughout the consultation process.
I will continue to consult with the Minister and officials about other aspects of the Draft Bill. I want to see a Bill, when it is put to parliament, which tackles the real problems in crofting, and heeds the input received from crofters."