Crofters urged to complete census

THE Crofting Commission has issued its third crofting census.

Crofters are legally obliged to inform the commission, on an annual basis, whether or not they are complying with their crofting duties. The census form must be completed and returned to the commission before March 31 this year.

The annual crofting census allows the commission to gather an evidence base which is being built up year by year. There has been a high rate of return over the past two years with the 2015 crofting census resulting in more than 4,000 changes being made to the Crofting Commission’s Register of Crofts.

Bill Barron, Crofting Commission interim chief executive, said: ‘I would like to thank crofters for completing the last two crofting census forms and I hope that we can continue the high return rate from previous years.

‘To ensure crofters meet their legal obligations, we have simplified the census forms as much as possible so they are quick and easy to complete. I would like to remind crofters that they must answer all questions on the form and, if you have multiple crofts, you must complete and return a form for each croft.’

Cabinet secretary for the rural economy Fergus Ewing added: ‘It is essential that the information in the Register of Crofts is accurate and I welcome the steps the Crofting Commission has taken to make it even easier for crofters to complete their forms. It is important that everyone who has been sent a crofting census completes and returns it.’

For further information visit www. crofting. scotland. gov.uk/ crofting- census.