7 Additional Comments
Question 28: Do you have any additional comments on the Consultation Paper of the Draft Bill?
7.1 There were 304 responses to this question ranging from support, to calls for revision or amendments to outright opposition to the draft Bill. Of the 304, 82 opposed the Bill in its entirety. The remainder did not answer this question.
7.2 80 respondents stated that following the consultation period the Government should now carefully reconsider the evidence and make suitable amendments to address the issues raised.
7.3 Of the additional comments made; these included:
- 32 commented that legislation should develop or improve the economics of crofting, whilst 19 advocated improved grant assistance and 12 wanted any amendments to address the speculation on croft land through provisions for rural housing;
- 28 raised the concern that any legislation should ensure that family assignations, security of tenure and crofters rights were not in any way affected;
- 25 advocate legislation which actively encourages young people into crofting
- 20 raised the concern that the present proposals should be revised to ensure that they were more sympathetic to the culture of crafting;
- 7 considered that a greater part should be played by Common Grazings and Township Committees in governing crofting in consultation with the Commission; and
- 13 wanted the Commission's powers improved and there were 13 calls for the development function to be reinstated. Calls for the reinstatement of the development function were however tempered by approval from some Local Authorities and organisations that the newly streamlined Commission would now be better able to administer regulation.