Crofting support under threat 3/4/14

Sir,

Agricutural support schemes, restricted to crofters, have survived for more than a century under governments of all complexions at Westminister and later in Edinburgh. Only now are they under imminent threat due to the actions of the SNP-run Scottish Government.

The proposed merger of CCAGS, into a wider pool of ‘small farmers’ covering 73% of all Scottish agricultural holdings, would be catastrophic for crofting. It is impossible to believe that any previous Parliamentary representatives of the Western Isles would have been silent on this issue or, indeed, allowed it to get to this advanced stage.

We have heard absolutely nothing on this subject from the elected MSP for the Western Isles, Alasdair Allan, any more than we have heard from him on the slow strangulation of the Crofter Housing Grant Scheme.

Does Mr Allan have any opinions - or will he remain in hiding, in the hope that nobody will notice his silence or lack of influence on matters of historic importance to his constituency and to crofting?

Iain Macsween

8b Shulishader

Point

Isle of Lewis

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