Crofting redirection and redefinition required?

Address given at the SCF Annual gathering in October 2011

by John MacKintosh FRAgS

Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen

We have just come through a period of reflection on crofting with the consultation on the Shucksmith Report (1) at its core. One of the issues that have hung about crofting for a long time is that of tenancy versus ownership. Frankly I have never heard a convincing argument that this issue should be discussed at all. Each and every crofter should have the right to choose whether they wish to be a tenant or an owner according to how they wish to develop their crofting land and the activity of crofting on it. I am pleased to say that is now the case but the issue may have been better dealt with by deleting the terms from the legislation altogether.

To read the full address please click here for the PDF – Crofting Redirection Address