Comhairle nan Eilean Siar PRESS RELEASE 11 April 2000 For Use: Immediately

Commenting to-day on a leaked Scottish Executive report that the Crofters Commission is to retain its specialist role in crofting support, Councillor Donald Maclean, Chairman of the Comhairle’s Development Services Committee, said:

"The Comhairle has always opposed the transfer to Highlands and Islands Enterprise of the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme and the Livestock Improvements Scheme and we are very pleased indeed that the Scottish Executive has accepted the Comhairle’s case. There has been genuine concern in the crofting community about these proposals and I would now hope that the Executive will accept the rest of our proposals and decentralise the Commission’s’ activities to areas such as the Western Isles where the jobs can have a real economic impact".

Ends

Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer