2016-03-23 |
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Five Actions for Crofting
With the commencement of the campaigns for the Scottish elections, the Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) is challenging political parties to lay out in their manifestos how they will deliver for crofting based on ‘Five Actions for Crofting’.
“We are keeping this simple”, said Scottish Crofting Federation’s chair Fiona Mandeville, “by presenting just the top five actions that must be addressed by the next Scottish Government. We have widespread agreement that by tackling these five areas the Scottish Government can make a real and positive impact on crofting communities and on rural Scotland.”
The ‘Five Actions for Crofting’ are:
Target Financial Incentives
Current and future agricultural support policies must have a positive
impact on crofting and must move away from shoring-up the out-dated
and unsustainable large-scale industrial model, to using public
money to pay for the delivery of public goods.
Simplify Crofting
Legislation
The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting prioritised the need to make
crofting legislation fit for purpose. This is unfinished business.
This can only be done effectively with a new Act. Grasp the nettle:
finish the business.
Make Crofts Available
Many people want to come into crofting and crofting needs in-comers,
especially young folk. It is recognised that making existing crofts
available is a long-term project so new crofts must be created
simultaneously.
Increase Affordable Housing
A considerable step has been taken by Scottish Government in reviewing
and upgrading the Croft
House Grant Scheme. But we can do more
to help crofters access affordable housing in rural and island
communities by reinstating the loan element.
Deliver Crofting Development
HIE was directed by ministers to take responsibility for ‘crofting
community development’. This is not the same thing as crofting
development. There must be a body given ministerial direction and
funding to take responsibility for crofting development.
Ms Mandeville continued,
“We have a clear mandate from crofters as demonstrated
in the ‘Future
of Crofting’ conference, which revisited the Committee of Inquiry
on Crofting. This was the most comprehensive inquiry into crofting for a generation.
We also have the agreement of the Parliamentary Cross Party Group on Crofting
which comprises MSPs and organisations involved in crofting policy and development.
The consensus and support for the ‘Five Actions for Crofting’ are remarkable,
perhaps unique in crofting.
“We have presented the actions to the Parliamentary committee for rural affairs, to the minister for crofting Dr Aileen McLeod, and just today we met with the Cabinet Secretary for rural affairs Richard Lochhead to have a very positive discussion on the five points. The SCF has posted a more detailed version of the ‘Five Actions for Crofting’ on their website and on social media,” Ms Mandeville added.
