Chamber and committees

The crofting community right to buy is intended to support the sustainable development of fragile crofting communities and has been created because we believe this is the only way to ensure the future of some communities. It is a means of removing a land based barrier to rural development.An application by a crofting community body to exercise the right to buy salmon fishings will not succeed unless the proposed acquisition will deliver sustainable development and be in the public interest. Each application will be considered on its merits and with reference to the criteria which ministers must take into account in reaching a decision. An application would not be considered to be in the public interest if granting that application would result in severe detriment to the sustainable development of other land. However, if a successful application results in severance and depreciation of other property section 85(6)(a)(ii) of the bill provides that the price paid should take account of this. It is, of course, also open to any owner of salmon fishings to seek to avoid problems of severance by negotiating a sale of all of his/her property to the crofting community.

The right to buy extends only to land which consists of salmon fishings as defined in section 65(2)(d). Where existing arrangements such as leases, timeshare or syndications are binding on the present owner, these arrangements will be binding on the new owner. Timeshare or syndication arrangements which constitute joint or common ownership would in theory be susceptible to purchase through the provisions of section 70(4). However, it may prove difficult to demonstrate that the purchase of fishings held under such arrangements would lead to sustainable development or be in the public interest. Furthermore, in many cases affordability is likely to be an issue for crofting community bodies. There is also a specific protection for tenancies in section 67(5).

If there has been any damage done to the confidence of prospective investors in salmon fishings it has been done by those people who have, in contesting our proposals, sought to suggest that there will be massive adverse effects on the quality of the fishing that will be available in the future as a result of this legislation. Any problems which exist will be resolved when opponents stop talking up the problems and start making realistic and sober assessments of the effects of these proposals. From that perspective the most useful way in which the Executive can ensure investor confidence would be to make sure that this bill is enacted as quickly as possible.

The definition of "inland waters" in part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill does not apply to part 3.

This provision is to protect the interests of small groups of people whose activities and property would be affected by an application but who are not necessarily a party to the application. For example, it would protect the interests of an individual crofting township where an application is made in respect of a wider area of croft land which includes their land. Conversely it could also protect interests outwith the area of land covered by the application where a change in the ownership of the land covered by the application would have an adverse impact on them.

This is not a right which we would expect crofting communities to attempt to exercise frequently, but it will be there if they want it. It will also help to ensure that in future all landowners in the Highlands and Islands have a proper regard for the interests, needs and sustainable development of the fragile crofting communities in which their properties are located.

Information on the number of women admitted to psychiatric hospitals and units for alcoholic psychosis, alcoholic dependence syndrome and non-dependent abuse of alcohol in the last year is given below.Women Admitted to Mental Illness Hospitals and Psychiatric Units with Alcohol-Related Problems During 2000-01 by Diagnosis.

Diagnosis	Number
Main Diagnosis
Alcohol dependence	705
Alcohol non-dependence	213
Alcoholic psychosis	117
Secondary Diagnosis
Alcohol dependence	104
Alcohol non-dependence	128
Alcoholic psychosis	16

Source: Scottish Morbidity Record, SMR04Text of answer.Note:Alcohol-related conditions are defined using the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10).

There is no universally accepted definition of an alcohol-related death. The information given in the following table relates to deaths certified as due to alcoholic liver disease, alcoholic cardiomyopathy and mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol.Deaths due to Alcoholic Liver Disease, Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy and Mental and Behavioural Disorders due to Alcohol in 1999-2001 by Gender.

	Males	Females	Total
1999	711	302	1,013
2000	791	338	1,129
2001	862	358	1,220

Source: General Register Office for Scotland.Notes:Alcohol-related conditions are defined using the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases 9th and 10th Revisions (ICD9 and ICD10).Figures for 2001 are provisional.

The Executive's Plan for Action on alcohol problems which was published on 18 January 2002, sets out that alcohol problems services should be sensitive to the needs of particular groups, including women. The Executive has recently consulted on a framework for alcohol problems support and treatment services and has consulted with groups who have a specific interest in women with alcohol problems.The Health Education Board for Scotland, Alcohol Focus Scotland and the National Association of Alcohol Action Teams held a seminar on women and alcohol in April at which I spoke. One outcome from the seminar was a commitment to establishing a women and alcohol network. The network will provide a vehicle for the development and dissemination of good practice in working with women, including the development of gender-sensitive approaches.

The Executive's Plan for Action on alcohol problems, which was published on 18 January, acknowledges that there are gaps in current alcohol support and treatment services across Scotland. It requires Alcohol Action Teams to assess local needs and develop local strategies by April 2003, ensuring that account is taken of the particular difficulties in providing confidential and accessible services in rural areas. The Executive is developing a framework for alcohol problems services which will assist local areas to assess needs, identify gaps and develop strategies for services accordingly.