Thank you, convener, and good morning, everyone.
Most people agree that current crofting legislation is complex and lacks transparency, having been developed on a piecemeal basis over 130 years. A consultation was launched last August, in which we sought stakeholders’ views on the Scottish Government’s crofting policy, the potential form that new crofting legislation could take and priorities for legislative change. During the three-month consultation period, my officials held a series of 21 meetings with the public and interested stakeholder groups. They heard directly from more than 300 individuals across the crofting counties.
The consultation closed in late November, having received 122 responses from individuals and organisations. The responses were independently analysed and a report on the analysis was published in mid-March. A wide and diverse range of views was expressed, which highlighted the scale of the challenge ahead. The analysis highlighted that there is support for new crofting legislation and support for making changes to existing legislation and restating or consolidating law in almost equal proportions. Consequently, there does not appear to be a consensus that would allow me to decide on specific pieces of legislative reform.
Following the publication of the analysis report, I met the cross-party group on crofting to outline how I want to take matters forward and to hear the views of group members and members of the Scottish Parliament. I explained that I am proposing a two-phase approach to legislative reform, with the first phase, in the shorter term, leading to a bill in this parliamentary session.
The first phase will focus on delivering changes that carry widespread support and will result in practical, everyday improvements to the lives of crofters and the legislative procedures that they follow. I am keen to involve and engage MSPs—particularly those with crofting interests—to ensure that their ideas and proposals can be considered and taken forward in legislation.
The second phase is longer-term work. I have asked my officials to continue to give consideration to a fundamental review of crofting legislation with the aim of providing a solution to some of the more complex and challenging issues that crofting faces and determining what they mean for how legislation will be developed in the future. The work will begin now but will be for a future Parliament to deliver.
I am pleased to say that that work is under way. A crofting bill group has been established, which will involve stakeholder organisations in the development of proposals for a bill and consideration of the longer-term issues. I understand that the group’s first meeting has taken place and was positive and constructive.
I am also keen to use further non-legislative means to make changes to further improve the sustainability of crofting and encourage new entrants. Those changes will include a national development plan for crofting and a new entrants scheme that will directly benefit crofters without their needing to wait for legislative change.
It is not just within crofting that I see opportunities to enhance provision. I am keen to encourage more woodland crofts through the national forest estate and to ensure that crofting communities benefit from our ambitions for a low-carbon economy and our commitment to provide all homes and businesses with access to superfast broadband. The approach is pragmatic and is focused on delivering a future for crofting in 21st century Scotland.
I hope that those opening remarks are helpful.