News / MSP asks crofters to highlight red tape
SHETLAND MSP Tavish Scott is calling on local crofters and farmers to contact him with ideas for how to reduce the bureaucracy seen by many as a burden on the agriculture industry.
The MSP said he was horrified by the penalties imposed on island crofters for often small inaccuracies in their paperwork.
He said crofters should get in touch either with him or with former Aberdeen Marts boss Brian Pack, who is conducting an inquiry into farm regulation across Scotland.
“Mr Pack is asking that crofters and farmers give him chapter and verse on regulations and penalties that are unfair, don’t work or are out of all proportion,” Scott said.
“Small changes to the area of land used for agriculture have been used as a way to fine crofters.
“Crofters have also had years of talk on reducing regulation. The biggest and worst one is sheep identification – sheep EID. It can’t work, it doesn’t work and it won’t work.
“So the Scottish Government could take a massive step to help sheep producers by abolishing a system that does nothing to secure animal health or to improve the movement of animals.
“Any Shetland crofter who has any suggestions for reducing paperwork, bureaucracy and regulation is very welcome to get in touch and I will pass on these suggestions.”
Scott said he would also encourage local crofters to log on to www.farmregulation-doingbetter.org
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