Crofting consultation 2024
Feedback updated 15 Nov 2024
We asked
We asked for your views on proposals for Crofting Law Reform. The consultation covered potential legislative changes to support entry to crofting, to clarify the community aspect of crofting law, to promote use of common grazings, to strengthen adherence to crofters’ duties, to modify the Crofting Commission’s regulatory roles and powers, and to make simplifications and corrections to current legislation.
The consultation opened on 6 June 2024 and closed on 2 September 2024.
You said
163 responses were received across the 3-month consultation period. Of that, 136 responses (83%) were from individuals, and 27 (17%) were organisational responses.
In addition, 257 people attended our 15 consultation events across the crofting counties in July and August, when the key proposals in the consultation were aired and debated.
Most of the Government’s proposals were well supported by the consultation responses, but some proposals divided opinion. Many respondents made use of the free text boxes to give reasons for their views and to make a variety of additional suggestions. Some respondents said that the proposals did not go far enough, and called for a more fundamental package of crofting reforms to be developed.
We are grateful to everyone who took time to share their views and provide a response to this consultation.
We did
The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government (PfG) 2023-2024 announced our commitment to develop and consult on proposals to reform crofting law, and our PfG 2024-25 announced our commitment to analyse and publish the consultation responses, and to bring forward legislation.
The Scottish Government commissioned The Lines Between to undertake an independent, impartial analysis of the responses to the consultation, including the points made in the 15 consultation events. This analysis was published on 15 November 2024, along with the responses themselves (where permission to publish was given).
We are carefully considering what we have heard during the consultation process to help inform development of the Crofting Bill, and are having further discussions with key stakeholders including the Crofting Commission and other members of the Crofting Bill Group and the Crofting Stakeholder Forum.
Results updated 15 Nov 2024
Links:
Published responses
View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.
Overview
The Scottish Government is determined to ensure that crofting legislation enables and supports the sustainability of crofting, of crofters and crofting communities, and allows crofting to modernise, innovate, diversify and adapt to help meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.
This consultation seeks views on a range of proposals for crofting reform which will help to create opportunities for new entrants, encourage the active management and use of crofts and common grazings, and support rural population.
The crofting system must support effective and sustainable land use. Crofting’s place in agriculture and food production will remain at the heart of the system, but alongside these we now see crofting playing an increasing role in tourism, renewable energy generation, forestry, peatland restoration, beekeeping and small-scale horticulture production.
Read the consultation paper. The consultation paper contains full background information, including references to current legislation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding.
Useful information about responding to this consultation
As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.
Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.
On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.
After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.
An analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us. You can also join our consulation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).
What happens next
After the consultation has closed, the responses will be analysed and these will help inform future crofting law reform. Where respondents have given permission for their response to be made public, we will publish these responses and, thereafter, publish a report of the analysis of the consultation responses.
Events
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Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness
From 3 Jul 2024 at 19:00 to 3 Jul 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Park Hotel, Thurso
From 4 Jul 2024 at 19:00 to 4 Jul 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Macphail Centre, Ullapool
From 9 Jul 2024 at 19:00 to 9 Jul 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Kinlochbervie, Village Hall
From 11 Jul 2024 at 19:00 to 11 Jul 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Portree Community Centre, Skye
From 17 Jul 2024 at 19:00 to 17 Jul 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Lairg Community Centre
From 18 Jul 2024 at 19:00 to 18 Jul 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Mid-Yell Hall, Yell
From 22 Jul 2024 at 19:00 to 22 Jul 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Mareel, Lerwick
From 23 Jul 2024 at 19:00 to 23 Jul 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Spean Bridge Community Centre (Village Hall)
From 29 Jul 2024 at 19:00 to 29 Jul 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Muthu Regent Hotel, Oban
From 30 Jul 2024 at 19:00 to 30 Jul 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
An Talla, Tiree
From 31 Jul 2024 at 17:00 to 31 Jul 2024 at 19:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Caladh Inn, Stornoway
From 12 Aug 2024 at 19:00 to 12 Aug 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Talla Na Mara, Harris
From 13 Aug 2024 at 19:00 to 13 Aug 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
An Caladh, Balivanich, Benbecula
From 14 Aug 2024 at 19:00 to 14 Aug 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided. -
Barra Learning Centre, Castlebay
From 15 Aug 2024 at 19:00 to 15 Aug 2024 at 21:00Have your say and learn more about the Crofting Consultation 2024, at one of our crofter and landlord meetings.
Tea and coffee provided.
Interests
- Farming and Rural
- Main hub
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