§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is the policy of the Crofters Commission to approve the apportionment of common hill or rough grazings only on the condition that the apportioned land is agriculturally improved; and, if so, how this can be reconciled with the interests of nature conservation on the sites of special scientific interest where the Nature Conservancy Council have listed re-seeding of such land as a potentially damaging operation.
§ Lord Gray of ContinIt is normally the policy of the Crofters Commission to impose conditions when approving the apportionment of common hill or rough grazings. Such conditions often, but not always, include the requirement that the apportioned land is agriculturally improved. Where land improvement is a condition of apportionment the Crofters Commission are always careful to ensure that a proper balance is maintained between conservation and development.
The interest of nature conservation on sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) is safeguarded by the requirement contained in Sections 28 and 32 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 that crofters, as occupiers, must notify the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) of any proposed operations to be carried out on land forming part of an SSSI which are listed as potentially damaging. In such cases the NCC may agree with the crofter such modifications to the operations as they regard as necessary to protect the nature of the SSSI or they may offer him a management agreement whereunder compensation may be paid to him in exchange for his abandoning his proposals. Where application has been made to my department for a grant towards the cost of such operations, the NCC may request that the grant be withheld but no such cases have occurred to date.