This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Crofters' right to buy land confirmed
29/10/2004
The Executive's commitment to ensuring a viable future
for crofting communities was confirmed today during a
crofting masterclass at Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Skye.
Deputy Rural Development Minister Lewis
Macdonald stressed that if necessary, the Executive would
take steps to stop landowners depriving crofting
communities of the benefits of right to buy.
Mr Macdonald said:
"The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring a
prosperous and sustainable economy in rural Scotland.
"It is clear that crofting tenure continues to have a
key role to play in this and the proposed Crofting Reform
Bill will help to safeguard tenure, bringing crofting law
into line with the needs of today's crofting
communities.
"The Land Reform Act has already transformed the
crofting landscape by giving communities the opportunity to
own the land they croft. I am aware of suggestions that
landowners may try to circumvent these provisions, by
leasing development rights to companies in which they have
an interest.
"It is far from clear what the practical impact of such
attempts would be. Such measures would undoubtedly
adversely affect the value of the land, so land owners may
think twice before trying this approach.
"However, if it becomes clear that landowners are
seeking to frustrate the purpose of the Act I shall not
hesitate to use the Crofting Reform Bill to introduce
measures to protect the benefits of the right to buy."
Consultation on the draft Crofting Reform Bill will
begin early in 2005.