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Crofting Inquiry Committee members named
An impressive range of experience and expertise is included in the membership of the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, which was announced this week.
Chaired by Professor Mark Shucksmith, the Committee's task is to develop a vision for the future of crofting in Scotland and they are expected to complete its work by the end of 2007.
The formation of the Committee has been welcomed by the Scottish Crofting Foundation who demanded the setting up of an Inquiry as part of their campaign against the Crofting Reform Bill.
Committee members are:
- Jane Brown, a crofter and consultant from Shetland
- Fred Edwards LVO, President of Scottish Environment Link
- Professor James Hunter, director of the UHI Centre for History
- Susan Lamont, NFU Scotland part time Group Secretary for Tiree
- Norman A MacDonald, Councillor, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
- Professor Donald MacRae FRSE, Strategy and Finance Director for Lloyds TSB Scotland
- Agnes Rennie MBE, crofter and consultant in rural development
- Becky Shaw, Land Use Programme Manager with the Scottish Crofting Foundation
The committee plan to launch a public consultation, following their first official meeting in May.
Professor Shucksmith welcomed Scottish Ministers’ announcement of the Committee members. He commented, "This is an issue which affects people’s way of life in many rural communities in Scotland and it is vital that we get views from as many people as possible who have an interest in crofting, whether as crofters or from the local communities."
"We want to hear directly from people about their experiences and their thoughts for the future. The Inquiry will be accessible to people and will look at a range of evidence to examine the part crofting could play in rural Scotland in the future."
The Scottish Crofting Foundation welcomed the formation of the Crofting Committee of Inquiry, a central demand in their campaign against the Crofting Reform Bill presented by the Scottish Executive in 2005.
Norman Leask, Chair of SCF said "We are very pleased to see a strong Committee has been appointed now. This is the culmination of a long hard struggle since the release of the draft Crofting Reform Bill and we look forward to working with it. This is history in the making with this being the first Committee of Inquiry looking at crofting in over 50 years."
To enable as many views as possible to be heard , the Committee will engage proactively with crofting communities and others with an interest in sustainable rural development over the summer months. A series of visits throughout the crofting communities will be undertaken by committee members so that people will have the opportunity to meet with members of The Committee and express their views.
The Committee will have a website where people can express their views on-line directly.
In the meantime, you can find out more right here on the Rural Gateway, or by clicking on Topics and following the link to Crofting.
- Source
- Rural Gateway
- Date
- 3-Apr-2007
- Categories
- COMMUNITIES, COUNTRYSIDE, ENTERPRISE, All Scotland, Highlands and Islands, News - General, News - Top Story