Union’s crofting membership approaches 800

NFU Scotland has enjoyed a surge in crofting membership in 2017.

In the past year, 64 crofters have become new members of NFUS taking its total crofting membership to 797 – almost 10 percent of the Union’s total membership.

In an unprecedented year of activity around crofting, the union has fully consulted with all its crofting members twice in the last year on Crofting Law Reform proposals – sending a postal or electronic version of both of its consultations direct to every one of its crofter members. This along, with feedback that it received during its inaugural Highlands and Islands Roadshow in June 2017, and subsequent meetings, informed its final response, submitted recently.

NFU Scotland has supported ‘Option Four’ in the consultation on the Bill, setting out that ‘new’ crofting law is what is required. However, this support was with the caveat that fundamental crofters’ rights are protected and that elements of existing crofting legislation that work for the benefit of crofters, and crofting, could be used to formulate any new law.

Vice President Martin Kennedy said: “Crofting plays a vital part in the fabric of Scotland’s Highlands and Island and its contribution to our rural economies and food industry must be recognised and bolstered by this Bill.

“NFU Scotland members are keen to see crofting flourish and want to see legislation that is enabling; that encourages and supports innovation and entrepreneurship, not stifling and constraining it.

“Reforming crofting legislation is only part of the picture in revitalising crofting. In our submission, we have urged Scottish Government to produce the promised National Development Plan for crofting, prior to a Bill coming before Parliament.   

“That is part of a wider action plan around crofting and our priorities for the year ahead are already mapped out.  

“We are continuing to press for changes to the Crofting and Agricultural Grants Scheme (CAGS).  CAGS is an important source of support for crofters and it is imperative that crofters can easily apply for the grant and that grant claims can be quickly processed.

“Some crofters are either unaware of what they can apply for, or don’t believe that what they are proposing is eligible. For those that have been successful in being awarded a grant, there are some who have waited a considerable time to receive their final payment, which imposes real difficulties for them in terms of cash-flow. We will be urging Scottish Government to ensure that CAGS is accessible to all crofters and that grant is paid out quickly.  

“We will also continue to contribute to the Crofting Stakeholder Forum and the Cross-Party Group in Holyrood on Crofting and in a bid to ensure Crofting Law Reform brings positive change to this important part of our rural landscape.”    

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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006