New crofting bill to create budget 'black hole'

CROFTING'S regulating body faces a £4 million budget "black hole" because of extra duties created by Scottish Government legislation, a Labour MSP claims .

The Crofting Reform Bill, launched in December, puts extra onus on a revamped Crofters' Commission to tackle absenteeism.

Peter Peacock, a Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, claims it could now cost the commission more than 4m to deal with the potential number of cases of neglect.

Mr Peacock said the need for extra money was a "startling revelation" that had "blown apart earlier claims from the government that there would be no extra costs involved".

He said: "It is now clear the commission will not have the resources to deal with the new duties."