The new proposals include:

• Reconstituting the Crofters Commission with up to six area committees that will include crofters elected by crofters

• Making Highlands and Islands Enterprise the lead organisation for the development of crofting communities

• Giving the Registers of Scotland responsibility for establishing a new Register of Crofts

• Giving consideration to an occupancy condition on housing built on land taken out of crofting tenure to address speculation on croft land for second homes

• Undertaking a review of support for croft housing and support for croft agriculture with an emphasis on supporting new entrants to crofting

• Encouraging the creation of new crofts, especially on public land

• A new crofting bill and a consolidation of crofting law.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Russell said: "I believe that empowering crofters to take decisions about crofting is central to securing the future of the sector.

"By reforming the Crofters Commission to make it more democratic and accountable we will return power to those who know what is best for crofting and for their communities.

"One of the priorities of this Government is to support and develop rural communities and I feel today's proposals will do exactly that.

"Crofting makes a unique and significant contribution to remote rural areas through economic, social and environmental benefits and has a pivotal role in the world famous cultural landscape of the Highlands and Islands.

"We have listened very carefully both to the Committee of Inquiry and to the concerns expressed by crofters before reaching our conclusions."

Commenting on the Government's response, the Chair of the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, Professor Mark Shucksmith, said he was pleased the Scottish Government had accepted the essence of the Committee's proposals, even though it has proposed slightly different means of achieving some of the reforms recommended.

He said: "The Committee heard compelling evidence that radical reforms of governance, regulation and support are required if crofting is to survive and prosper.

"Time alone will tell if these proposed reforms are sufficient, but it is my hope that the Scottish Government's proposals will now command widespread support and that they will be implemented as soon as possible."

Mr Russell also announced that the proposals would be included in a draft crofting bill which would be available for consulted upon in the spring of 2009.

Source Hebrides News: http://www.western-isles.info/page2081.html