Crofters (Scotland) Act 1961

SCHEDULES

Sections 6 and 18.

FIRST SCHEDULE Amendments of the Act of 1955

PART I Amendments consequential on section six of this Act

1 In subsection (2) of section seven (which provides that the landlord of a croft may set off all rent due or to become due by a crofter who has renounced his tenancy against any sum due to the crofter or to the Secretary of State by way of compensation for permanent improvements) after the words " any sum found to be due " there shall be inserted the words " by the landlord ".

2 After subsection (7) of section eleven (which provides that where a croft has been declared vacant under subsection (5) of that section the landlord shall be liable to make certain payments to the executor of the deceased crofter in respect of permanent improvements on the croft) there shall be inserted the following subsections—

“(7A) Where a croft has been declared under subsection (5) of this section to be vacant consequent on the death after the commencement of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1961, of a crofter who immediately before his death was qualified as mentioned in the next following subsection, and the value of the improvements on the croft is determined by the Land Court under the last foregoing subsection, the executor of the crofter may request the Land Court to determine what would have been the value of the improvements on the croft if the said Act had not been passed, and if the value last mentioned is greater than the value determined by the Land Court under the last foregoing subsection, the difference between the two said values shall be payable to the executor by the Secretary of State:

Provided that the Secretary of State shall be entitled to set off any amount due to him by the crofter at the date of his death in respect of a loan made under subsection (2) or (3) of section twenty-two of this Act or subsection (7) of section seven or section nine of the Act of 1911 against any sum payable to the executor by the Secretary of State under this subsection.

(7B) The reference in the last foregoing subsection to a crofter who immediately before his death was qualified is a reference to a crofter—

(a) whose tenancy of the croft in question began before the commencement of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1961, or

(b) who held the tenancy of such croft as statutory successor to his immediate predecessor in the tenancy and each of whose predecessors (being in each case a person whose tenancy of the croft began after the commencement of the said Act) held such tenancy as statutory successor to his immediate predecessor.”.

3 In subsection (3) of section thirteen (which provides that the landlord of a croft may set off all rent due by a crofter who has been removed from such croft against any sum due to the crofter for permanent improvements) after the words " any sum found to be due " there shall be inserted the words " by the landlord ".

4 In subsection (7) of section fourteen (which provides that the landlord of a croft may set off any compensation for deterioration due by a crofter on the termination of his tenancy against any compensation payable to the crofter for permanent improvements) after the words " any compensation payable " there shall be inserted the words " by him ".

5 In subsection (8) of section sixteen (which relates to the compulsory purchase by the Secretary of State of certain buildings on a vacant croft) after the words " entitled to receive " there shall be inserted the words " from the landlord ".

6 In subsection (8) of section seventeen (which relates to the consideration payable by an absentee crofter in respect of the conveyance to him of his dwelling-house) the words " to an incoming tenant" shall be omitted.

7 For subsection (2) of section twenty-eight of the Act of 1955 (which relates to the amount of the compensation payable under subsection (1) of that section to a cottar who renounces his tenancy or is removed from the subject occupied by him in respect of permanent improvements on that subject) there shall be substituted the following subsections—

“(2) The amount of the compensation payable under the foregoing subsection shall, failing agreement, be fixed by the Land Court, and—

(a) where the cottar renounced his tenancy or was removed from his subject before the commencement of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1961, the provisions of subsections (3), (4) and (5) of section fourteen of this Act (which relates to compensation to crofters for improvements) shall apply in relation to such cottar as they apply in relation to a crofter whose tenancy was terminated before the said commencement;

(b) where the cottar renounces his tenancy or is removed from his subject after the commencement of the said Act of 1961, the provisions of subsection (3) of section fourteen of this Act and of subsections (1) and (2) of section six of the said Act of 1961 (which relate to compensation to crofters for improvements) shall apply in relation to such cottar as they apply in relation to crofters.

(2A) Where compensation falls to be assessed under subsections (1) and (2) of section six of the said Act of 1961, as applied by paragraph (b) of the last foregoing subsection, in respect of any permanent improvement and the amount of such compensation is fixed by the Land Court under the last foregoing subsection, then if the cottar is qualified as mentioned in the next following subsection he may request the Land Court to determine the amount which would have been payable byway of compensation in respect of that improvement if the said Act of 1961 had not been passed, and if the amount last mentioned is greater than the amount fixed by the Land Court as aforesaid, the difference between the two said amounts shall be payable to the cottar by the Secretary of State:

Provided that—

(a) the Secretary of State shall be entitled to set off any amount due to him by the cottar in respect of a loan made under subsection (2) of section twenty-two of this Act or section nine of the Act of 1911 against any sum payable to the cottar by the Secretary of State under this subsection ; and

(b) this subsection shall not apply where compensation in respect of the improvement in question has on a previous occasion fallen to be assessed under subsections (1) and (2) of section six of the said Act of 1961, as applied as aforesaid.

(2B) The reference in the last foregoing subsection to a cottar who is qualified is a reference to a cottar—

(a) whose occupation of the subject in question began before the commencement of the said Act of 1961, or

(b) who occupies such subject as heir-at-law, legatee or assignee of his immediate predecessor as occupier of the subject, and each of whose predecessors (being in each case a person whose occupation of the subject began after the commencement of the said Act of 1961) occupied the subject as heir-at-law, legatee or assignee of his immediate predecessor.”.

PART II Minor Amendments and General Consequential Amendments

8 Any reference in the Act of 1955 to that Act shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include a reference to this Act.

9 In section three (which defines a croft)—

(a) in paragraph (c) of subsection (1) for the word " is " there shall be substituted the words " was before the commencement of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1961, "; and

(b) at the end of subsection (1) there shall be added the following paragraph—

“(d) as from the date of the direction, every holding situated as aforesaid as to which the Secretary of State has directed under subsection (1) of section two of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1961, that it shall be a croft.”.

10 In section eight (which relates to the assignation of a croft)—

(a) in subsection (2) the words from " and shall" onwards shall be omitted ;

(b) in subsection (3) for the word " giving " there shall be substituted the words " deciding whether to give or to withhold ";

(c) in subsection (4) the words from " and, where " onwards shall be omitted;

(d) in subsection (5) the words from " or, where " to " such terms and conditions " shall be omitted ; and

(e) at the end of the section there shall be added the following subsection—

“(6) An assignation to which the Commission have given their consent under this section shall take effect at the term of Whitsunday or Martinmas first occurring not less than two months after the date on which such consent was intimated to the crofter, unless before the said term of Whitsunday or Martinmas, as the case may be, the crofter or his heir or legatee and the assignee jointly give to the Commission notice in writing that they do not intend to proceed with the assignation.”.

11 In section twelve (which relates to the resumption of a croft or part of a croft by the landlord)—

(a) in subsection (2) after the word " seashore " there shall be inserted the words " or for any other purpose likely to provide employment for crofters and others in the locality "; and

(b) at the end of the section there shall be added the following subsection—

“(4) The provisions of the Crofters (Scotland) Acts, 1955 and 1961, shall cease to apply to any land on its being resumed in pursuance of an order authorising its resumption made under this section by the Land Court, without prejudice, however, to the subsequent exercise of any powers conferred by any enactment for the constitution of new crofts or the enlargement of existing crofts.”.

12 In section sixteen (which relates to vacant crofts)—

(a) after subsection (3) there shall be inserted the following subsection—

“(3A) Where any person is in occupation of a croft under a letting which is null and void by virtue of the last foregoing subsection, the Commission may serve on him a notice in writing requiring him to give up his occupation of such croft on or before such day as may be specified in the notice, being a day not less than one month from the date of the service of the notice ; and if he fails to give up his occupation of the croft on or before that day, subsection (3) of the next following section shall, subject to any necessary modifications, apply as it applies where a crofter fails to give up the occupation of a croft as mentioned in that subsection.”;

(b) subsection (9) shall have effect as if at the end thereof there were added the words " The Secretary of State shall intimate to the Commission any direction given by him under this subsection. ";

(c) after subsection (11) there shall be inserted the following subsection—

“(11A) For the purposes of this section a croft shall be taken to be vacant notwithstanding that it is occupied, if it is occupied otherwise than by the tenant of the croft.”; and

(d) after subsection (12) there shall be inserted the following subsection—

“(13) The provisions of this section shall have effect in relation to a part of a croft as they have effect in relation to a croft.”.

13 In section twenty-four, in subsection (2) (which relates to the giving of notice of meetings for the appointment of grazings committees) for the words from " on or near the door " onwards there shall be substituted the words " in such public place or places in that district as may be approved by the Commission. ".

14 In section twenty-five (which relates to the powers and duties of grazings committees), in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) after the word " and " there shall be inserted the words " to provide, maintain and, if necessary, replace ".

15 In section twenty-six (which relates to common grazings regulations), in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) after the words " and in " there shall be inserted the word " providing ".

16 In section thirty-two (which relates to the compulsory purchase of land and to the management of land), in subsection (2) for the words "subsection (10) of section twenty thereof" there shall be substituted the words " subsection (9) or (10) of section nine of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1961. ".

17 In section thirty-four (which relates to the determination of disputes), in subsection (1) for the words " are required by or" there shall be substituted the words " have jurisdiction ".

18 In section thirty-seven (which contains provisions for the interpretation of the Act), in subsection (1) after the definition of permanent improvement there shall be inserted the following words—

“Provided that no building or other structure erected on a croft shall be held to be a permanent improvement on the croft unless it is a fixture on the land ;”.

19 In section thirty-eight (which provides amongst other things for the modification of enactments in relation to the crofting counties), in subsection (2) after the word " than " there shall be inserted the words " section twenty-five of the Act of 1911 and ".

20 In the Second Schedule (which refers to the statutory conditions of crofting tenure)—

(a) in paragraph 3 for the words " the Commission " there shall be substituted the words " the Land Court ";

(b) after paragraph 3 there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

“3A The crofter shall provide such fixed equipment on his croft as may be necessary to enable him to cultivate the croft.”; and

(c) for paragraph 5 there shall be substituted the following paragraph—

“5 A crofter shall not sublet his croft or any part thereof otherwise than with the consent in writing of the Commission and in accordance with such conditions (which shall not include conditions relating to rent) as the Commission in giving their consent may impose:

Provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as debarring a crofter from subletting any dwelling-house or other building forming part of his croft to holiday visitors.”.

21 In the Fifth Schedule (which relates to permanent improvements)—

(a) in paragraph 10 for the words " to an incoming tenant " there shall be substituted the words " as an agricultural subject. "; and

(b) after paragraph 10 there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

“11 Buildings or other structures erected under section five of the Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1961, being buildings or structures which are fixtures on the land ; or works executed under the said section five.”.

Section 8.

SECOND SCHEDULE Confirmation and Validity of Reorganisation Schemes

PART I

Procedure for confirming reorganisation schemes

1 Before confirming a reorganisation scheme the Secretary of State shall—

(a) serve on every owner and every occupier of land to which the draft scheme applies a copy of the draft scheme together with a notice naming a place within the locality in which such land is situated where a copy of the maps and plans submitted with the draft scheme may be inspected at all reasonable hours and stating that such owner or occupier may, within twenty-eight days from the date of the service of the notice, object in such manner as may be specified in the notice to the draft scheme or to any provision contained therein; and

(b) in two successive weeks publish in one or more newspapers circulating in the locality in which the land to which the scheme applies is situated a notice stating that the draft scheme has been submitted to him, specifying the land to which the scheme applies, naming a place within the locality where a copy of the draft scheme and of the maps and plans submitted therewith may be inspected at all reasonable hours, and stating that any person having an interest in any land to which the scheme applies may, within twenty-eight days from the date of the first publication of the notice, object in such manner as may be specified in the notice to the draft scheme or to any provision contained therein.

2 If no objection is made under the foregoing paragraph or if all objections so made are withdrawn, the Secretary of State may, subject to the provisions of paragraph 4 of this Schedule, confirm the draft scheme with or without modifications.

3 If any objection made as aforesaid is not withdrawn, the Secretary of State shall, before deciding whether to confirm the draft scheme, cause a public local inquiry to be held, and after considering the objection and the report of the person who held the inquiry the Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit and subject to the provisions of the next following paragraph, confirm the draft scheme with or without modifications.

4 Where the Secretary of State proposes to make any modification in the draft scheme by virtue either of paragraph 2 of this Schedule or of the last foregoing paragraph, he shall, before deciding to confirm the draft scheme as so modified, serve on each of the persons referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 1 of this Schedule and on any other person who in his opinion may be substantially affected by such modification a notice specifying the modification and stating that such person may, within fourteen days from the date of the service of the notice, make representations in writing concerning the modification to the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State shall consider any representations so made before he decides whether to confirm the draft scheme as so modified.

5 Notwithstanding anything in paragraph 3 of this Schedule, the Secretary of State may require any person who has made an objection to state in writing the grounds thereof and may disregard the objection for the purposes of this Schedule if it is an objection which in the opinion of the Secretary of State is frivolous, or which relates exclusively to the assessment of any sum which will fall to be fixed under this Act or any other enactment by the Land Court, or which relates to the assessment of compensation on the compulsory acquisition of land or of an interest in land by virtue of section nine of this Act.

6 The provisions of subsections (2) to (9) of section three hundred and fifty-five of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947 (which relate to the holding of local inquiries) shall apply in relation to a public local inquiry held under paragraph 3 of this Schedule as they apply in relation to local inquiries held under the said section three hundred and fifty-five.

PART II

Validity of reorganisation schemes

7 On confirming a reorganisation scheme the Secretary of State shall forthwith—

(a) serve on every person on whom a notice was required to be served under sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 1 or paragraph 4 of this Schedule a notice stating that the scheme has been confirmed ; and

(b) publish in one or more newspapers circulating in the locality in which the land to which the scheme applies is situated a notice stating that the scheme has been confirmed and naming a place within the locality where a copy of the scheme and of the maps and plans relating thereto may be inspected at all reasonable hours.

8 If any person aggrieved by a reorganisation scheme desires to question its validity on the ground that it is not within the powers of this Act or that any requirement of this Act has not been complied with, he may, within six weeks from the date of the first publication of the notice referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of the last foregoing paragraph, make an application for the purpose to the Court of Session, and if any such application is made the Court, if satisfied that the scheme is not within the powers of this Act or that the interests of the applicant have been substantially prejudiced by a failure to comply with any requirement of this Act, may quash the scheme either generally or in so far as it affects any property or interest of the applicant; but except as aforesaid the scheme shall not at any time be questioned in any proceedings whatsoever.

Section 18.

THIRD SCHEDULE Provisions of the Act of 1955 Repealed

Section four	The whole section.
Section eight	In subsection (2), the words from " and shall " to the end of the subsection.
	In subsection (4), the words from " and, where " to the end of the subsection.
	In subsection (5), the words from " or, where " to " such terms and conditions ".
Section fourteen	Subsections (4) and (5).
Section fifteen	Subsections (2) to (4).
Section sixteen	In subsection (7), the words " or under subsection (5) of section twenty-one thereof".
Section seventeen	In subsection (4), the words from " and (b) " to " occupation of the croft ".
Section nineteen	The whole section.
Section twenty	The whole section.
Section twenty-one	The whole section.
Section twenty-seven	Subsection (6).
Section thirty-four	Subsection (2).
Section thirty-seven	Subsection (2).
Fourth Schedule	The whole Schedule.

Table of Statutes referred to in this Act

Short Title	Session and Chapter
Small Landholders and Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act, 1931.	21 & 22 Geo. 5. c. 44.
Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947	10 & 11 Geo. 6. c. 43.
Agriculture (Scotland) Act, 1948	11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 45.
Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act, 1949	12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 75.
Crofters (Scotland) Act, 1955	3 & 4 Eliz. 2. c. 21.