Lib Dem Candidate questions rationale behind locations for Rural Affairs Committee

12.00.00am GMT Thu 18th Feb 2010

Highland Liberal Democrat Candidate Alan MacRae has written to the Maureen Watt (SNP) the chair of the Rural Affairs Committee asking why the west of Scotland has no scheduled meetings of the committee to consider the Crofting Reform Bill.

The committee will meet to take evidence from members of the public in Thurso on the 23rd of February and on the 2nd March in Lerwick.

"The committee stage of parliament is, in many ways, where it all happens as far as law making is concerned. I find it inexplicable that no meetings will take place anywhere in the west of Scotland . Across a vast area including Argyll, Lochaber,

Skye and Wester Ross the public will have no opportunity to give evidence.

"In practical terms, more than half of the crofts in Scotland will be too far away to have any meaningful input into this process.

"I understand that the use of public money is an issue here but to only visit two locations, both in the far North East seems ridiculous"

ENDS