The Scottish Executive has agreed to drop substantial sections from the controversial Crofting Reform Bill.

It follows pressure from the crofting community and the Scottish Parliament's environment committee.

The executive will now attempt to get a much-edited version of the reform bill into law.

The sections removed include one referring to the market value of crofts. However, creating an accurate croft register will be retained.

The executive has also promised a wide-ranging inquiry into crofting to inform the new legislation.

The removal of certain sections followed almost universal condemnation from crofting interests, MSPs and the executive's environment and rural development committee.

'Massive climb-down'

Highlands and Islands Nationalist MSP Rob Gibson said this was a "massive climb-down" by the executive.

He said the inquiry could be a modern day Napier Commission, which proposed laws to protect crofting 120 years ago.

Mr Gibson said: "The committee sought the views of the crofters and put them to the executive.

"It's encouraging to see that the ministers have finally listened and have now shelved large parts of the bill."

Links to Crofting Reform Bill:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/57-croftingReform/b57s2-introd.pdf

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/briefings-06/SB06-26.pdf