Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: business and regulatory impact assessment

Introduction

1. This is the Final BRIA for the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill. This legislation is being brought forward to simplify existing crofting legislation; streamline administrative processes; enable active crofting on the inbye and common grazings; make crofting regulation less onerous for active crofters; and to make legislative changes for which there is consistent support across crofting communities. The Bill will introduce some immediate positive outcomes for crofters and their communities, and allow the Crofting Commission to better regulate crofting.

2. In 2021, the Scottish Government published a National Development Plan for Crofting. Within a wide range of policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening communities and land use in crofting areas, the Plan restated the Scottish Government's intention to simplify crofting law. The crofting provisions in the present Bill will deliver on this commitment.

3. The Bill will also make provision for the amalgamation of the Scottish Land Court (the Land Court) and the Lands Tribunal for Scotland (the Lands Tribunal). The amalgamation of the two bodies will provide a more efficient administration of the services that the Land Court and the Lands Tribunal currently offer, together with greater structural coherence.