This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Committee of Inquiry on crofting
12/12/2006
A Committee of Inquiry established to examine how crofting can best contribute to improving the economy, social infrastructure and environment of rural Scotland will be chaired by Professor Mark Shucksmith.
The Committee aims to engage proactively with crofting communities to establish a vision for the future of crofting.
It will look at the role and functioning of the Crofters' Commission and the other issues surrounding modern day crofting.
Announcing the appointment and the Committee's terms of reference, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development Rhona Brankin said:
"I welcome the appointment of Professor Shucksmith, who has considerable experience of working in crofting and rural communities and of the rural housing market.
"Crofting has supported and sustained rural communities for generations. It is now time for us to look again at how best to ensure that future arrangements for crofting help to sustain and enhance the population of rural Scotland, improve economic vitality, safeguard our landscape and biodiversity and promote cultural diversity."
"I look forward to working with Professor Shucksmith to determine the composition of the committee so that it can call on the full range of skills required to address the important task before it.
"We shall be looking to appoint members with knowledge of crofting conditions across all the main crofting areas of the Highlands and Islands"
The Committee is expected to report to Ministers by the end of 2007.
Professor Mark Shucksmith is Professor of Planning at Newcastle University, and was until recently Professor of Land Economy and Co-Director of the Arkleton Centre for Rural Development Research, University of Aberdeen, and Co-Director of the Scottish Centre for Research on Social Justice.
He has been adviser to the Environment & Rural Development Committee of the Scottish Parliament and is a member of SEERAD's Strategic Science Advisory Panel.
Professor Shucksmith's appointment is expected to run until the Committee has completed its work and reported to Ministers.
The post is part time and attracts remuneration of up to £50,076 per annum (£321 per day for an average time commitment of 3 days per week), which is to be paid to the University of Newcastle to allow Professor Shucksmith's release from his normal duties.