SCF Head Office
Lochalsh Business Park
Auchtertyre
Kyle of Lochalsh
IV40 8EG
SCOTLAND
Tel: 01599 566 365
Fax: 01599 566 375
Consultations
SCF Submission to Rural Housing Inquiry
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Scottish Crofting Foundation (SCF) is pleased to offer the following evidence to the Scottish Parliament rural housing enquiry.
SCF is the only representative organisation for crofters and crofting in Scotland. There are approximately 18,000 crofts in the ‘crofting counties’ of Inverness, Argyll, Orkney, Shetland and Eileanan an Iar. Crofters and their families comprise around 10%, or 30,000, of the Highlands and Islands population forming 30% of households on the mainland and 65% of households in Skye, Eileanan an Iar and Shetland. Average crofting household income is £21,000, and crofting provides around 30% of that income1. 25% of agricultural land in the Highlands and Islands is under crofting tenure. Crofting has been successful in maintaining populations in some of Scotland’s most remote areas by giving people access to land, homes and jobs. Housing support given to crofters has historically given excellent value for public money in rural housing provision, but that support has been massively devalued over the last twenty years.
Housing_Inquiry_SCF_submission.pdf
SCF contibution to the Food Policy Discussion
Friday, April 25, 2008
Scottish Crofting Foundation (SCF) is pleased to offer the following contribution to the discussion on the National Food Policy for Scotland. SCF is the only representative and campaigning organisation for crofters and crofting in Scotland. We congratulate the Scottish Government on this policy initiative which has far reaching importance for our members.
Food production in Scotland must concentrate on quality, local provision, provenance and environment. Maintaining food production, especially livestock, in upland, peripheral and island areas is of inestimable social, economic and environmental importance. Small scale agriculture, such as crofting, has been successful in maintaining populations in some of Scotland’s most remote areas. By contrast, industrial scale agriculture driven by a commercial UK food policy, whether in the Straths of Sutherland or the arable prairies of the East of England, has cleared rural populations leaving a degraded environment and a countryside that is the preserve of the very rich.
Consultation on responsibility and cost sharing for animal Health and welfare:
Friday, February 29, 2008
This consultation aims to engage with all those with an interest in developing policy on Responsibility and Cost Sharing (RCS) for Animal Health and Welfare. It builds on our December 2006 consultation on the principles of RCS. Part 1 of the consultation sets out a range of options for establishing a new framework. Part 2 contains specific proposals on sharing responsibilities and costs for seven Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) measures of direct relevance to the cattle and sheep industries, the animal by-products industry, abattoirs, and laboratories interested in TSE and genotype testing.
In addition to the main consultation document we have developed a Discussion Guide to assist smaller groups and individuals to address some of the key questions in the consultation.
The closing date for comments on this consultation is 15 April 2008.
Please see : http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ahw-nextsteps/index.htm
Extension of Crofting Areas
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
RUSSELL CONSULTS ON EXTENSION OF CROFTING AREA
Michael Russell today launched a consultation on proposals to extend
crofting to areas outside the traditional Crofting Counties.
The Environment Minister is seeking views on proposals to extend
crofting tenure to include the islands of Arran and Cumbrae and the
remaining parts of the Highlands and Islands not currently designated.
Launching the consultation, Mr Russell said:
"The Scottish Government recognises the importance of crofting to rural
economies and the great potential there is to expand this further across
Scotland.
"I would urge anyone with an interest in crofting who wishes to have
their say to respond to the consultation, in order for their views to be
considered in relation to this exciting proposal.
"The consultation will run alongside the on-going work of the Committee
of Inquiry, which is currently considering a vision for the future of
crofting, which is due to report in early 2008."
The consultation runs from 19 December 2007 to 12 March 2008. Documents
can be accessed at www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current
Evidence to the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Inquiry into Scotland’s Hill and Island Areas
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The Scottish Crofting Foundation urge this inquiry to consider the Scottish uplands and islands in a global context.
Our recent submission to the Shucksmith Committee dealt with many specific issues that crofting faces at the moment and may be of use to members of your committee. However, there has been a growth in systems thinking in policy making (specifically the growing importance of work being done by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) which recognises the interconnected nature of policy and of global resource use. This makes it essential that your committee consider how aspects of globalisation may benefit or threaten Scotland’s hill and island areas.
RSE_hill_and_islands_inquiry.pdf
SCF - Evidence to the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Scottish Crofting Foundation Evidence to the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting 31 July 2007
Link to http://www.croftinginquiry.org/
Briefing Notes on the Marine National Park in Scotland
Monday, December 18, 2006
The Scottish Executive says it has a long term commitment to the creation of a Coastal and Marine National Park.
Croft House Grant Scheme - Consultation on proposed revisions
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Consultation on Proposals for a revised scheme and the croft house transit (Scotland) Scheme 2005
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/22111008/10095
Welfare of Animals during Transport
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
EU Regulation 1/2005 1 on the welfare of animals during transport comes into force on 5 January 2007, with requirements for competence certificates coming into force on 5 January 2008.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/05/25101804/2
Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme - Consultation on Review of Compensation
Monday, September 05, 2005
This consultation seeks comments on proposed preliminary revised compensation rates offered under the Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/09/06130728/07295
Sheep and Goat ID and Traceability
Monday, August 15, 2005
Proposed changes to the current sheep and goat ID & Traceability system
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/12152532/25333
Draft Foot and Mouth Disease (Scotland) Regulations 2005
Friday, July 29, 2005
The Regulations cover the disease control options, movement controls, biosecurity measures and meat and milk treatments required by the EU Directive 2003/85. There is also provision for emergency vaccination and measures governing return to export status.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/0192025/20264
Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme (pdf)
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
On behalf of Scottish Ministers, we are inviting written responses to this consultation paper by 8th August 2005. This consultation relates to an administrative scheme being made under the provisions of section 4(1) of the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act 1897, to aid and develop the breeding of beef cattle in the crofting counties of Scotland.
CroftersCattleQualityImprovementSchemeconsultation1.pdf
Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill (pdf)
Monday, May 16, 2005
An Act of the Scottish Parliament to amend the Animal Health Act 1981, including by making provision for preventing the spread of disease; to make provision for the welfare of animals, including for prevention of harm; and for connected purposes.
Draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill 2005
Monday, March 21, 2005
Consultation on land reform in Scotland - including reform of crofting law -Group began in 1998 with the first consultation paper of the Land Reform Policy Group, which set out to identify the problems and opportunities which land reform could address. A second paper in the same year set out and sought views on various options for solutions and new measures. Finally, a paper in 1999 set down the Group's recommendations for action, both legislative and non-legislative. Each of these papers was widely available and the subject of public comment and advice.