MSP calls for Apology for Crofters

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has called for an apology from the First Minister following his "snub" to the Scottish Crofting Foundation.

She was shocked to read in Monday’s Press and Journal that the SCF had been told they weren’t welcome at a summit on safeguarding a sustainable food supply for Scotland with Alex Salmond.

In a motion to Parliament she said: "Crofting plays a vitally important role in the food industry, given that crofters from all over the Highlands and Islands supply thousands of store sheep, lambs and calves annually as well as providing lambs for direct export to continental Europe."

She urged the Scottish Government to invite the Scottish Crofting Foundation to any future meetings relating to the food industry in Scotland.

The text of the motion reads :

Rhoda Grant: Call for First Minister to Apologise to the Scottish Crofting Foundation—That the Parliament believes that the First Minister should apologise to the Scottish Crofting Foundation for excluding it from the summit held on 13 September 2007 on safeguarding a sustainable food supply for Scotland; further expresses surprise that the Scottish Crofting Foundation was not told officially that the summit had been arranged and, despite contacting the Scottish Government, was still not invited to attend; believes that crofting plays a vitally important role in the food industry, given that crofters from all over the highlands and islands supply thousands of store sheep, lambs and calves annually as well as providing lambs for direct export to continental Europe, and considers that the Scottish Government should invite the Scottish Crofting Foundation to any future meetings relating to the food industry in Scotland.

The motion is supported by Peter Peacock and David Stewart

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