Creating a Sustainable Future for Crofting

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament on 10 September 2019.

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Photo of Fergus Ewing Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party

As I have said, the phase 1 bill issues that we are looking at include a proposal for a new common grazings company structure. However, any change to a new structure—to becoming companies limited by guarantee—would have to be addressed through UK legislation. That makes things difficult for the Scottish Parliament, because the matter is ultra vires. [

Interruption

.] I say to Mr Mountain that it does. It is a complex area in which—[

Interruption

.] As usual, Mr Mountain is carrying on a muttering fusillade. I assure him that the issues have received consideration, as is correct. The issue that I mentioned involves partly reserved areas that the Scottish Parliament cannot deal with.

I have described the main problem: we cannot proceed with crofting legislation unless we can identify sufficient time in our parliamentary timetable. The work that we require to do, which Mr Mountain wants us to do, in relation to Brexit is making that very difficult or impossible.