The Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants (Scotland) Variation Scheme 2011

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Scheme)

The Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants (Scotland) Scheme 2006 (S.S.I. 2006/24) (“the 2006 Scheme”) enables the Scottish Ministers to make grants to crofters and certain occupiers and tenants of land in the crofting counties—

(a) in respect of specified operations carried out by them for the purpose of aiding and developing agricultural production on crofts or holdings (Part 2 of, and the Schedule to, the 2006 Scheme); and

(b) in respect of contributions made by them under such agreements as are referred to in section 47 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 towards the expenses of providing cattle grids (Part 3 of the 2006 Scheme).

This Scheme amends the 2006 Scheme by—

(a) inserting definitions of “application” (and “applicant”) and “designated maps” (paragraph 3(2)(a) and (b));

(b) amending the definition of “eligible occupier” (paragraph 3(2)(c)) by:

(i) providing that an owner-occupier crofter may be eligible for a grant regardless of economic status;

(ii) removing the eligibility of certain occupiers of a holding other than a croft situated in the crofting counties; and

(iii) extending the eligibility to tenants under a short lease of an owner-occupied croft;

(c) increasing the amount of grant payable under Parts 2 and 3 of the 2006 Scheme to certain applicants who are under 40 years of age (paragraph 3(5) and (7));

(d) making some technical and consequential amendments (paragraph 3(3), (4) and (6));

(e) revoking paragraph 11 which appointed the Crofters Commission as the Scottish Ministers’ agent for the purpose of the administration of the 2006 Scheme (paragraph 3(8)); and

(f) amending paragraph 2 of the Schedule and revoking paragraph 3 of Schedule (paragraph 3(9)).

Paragraph 4 makes a saving provision in respect of applications for grant by eligible occupiers under the 2006 Scheme made before 1st April 2011.