Allan looks to “progress” on crofting reform bill

Alisdair Allan MSP

Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, is to raise the forthcoming Crofting Reform Bill in Parliament.

The publication of the much anticipated Bill is now imminent and Dr Allan has raised the concerns of crofters on a number of occasions about the Scottish Government’s initial proposals in their draft bill.

Alasdair Allan, who will be asking a question in Parliament on the Bill on Thursday, commented:

“Few pieces of proposed legislation have generated as much correspondence for the Scottish Government as its proposals on crofting.

I have met many times now with the Government to make clear real concerns which crofters in the islands expressed about part of the original proposals, and I am now awaiting the publication of the Bill itself.

“I would like to hope that the Bill will not contain some of the most contentious elements which were in the draft bill, namely the measures on residency requirements, ‘standard Securities’ for commercial loans, and some of the problems around the proposed area committees.

“Although it seems we have been talking about this bill for a long time we have in fact yet to see it. I hope that, when we do, some substantial progress will have been made.”

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