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A total of 382 crofters have exercised their right to buy their crofts directly from Scottish ministers since the enactment of the Crofting Reform Act 1976, which conferred new rights on crofters to acquire subjects tenanted or occupied by them.
A number of people, mainly from down south, are buying properties in the nice new developments in the big cities as buy-to-lets because of the attraction of the return and because they are now able to wash their faces with a 15 per cent deposit in Scotland.
We have still, as I said, to consider responses received in the latest round of consultation and to decide with working group members how we reflect those in revising the draft document for publication.
We are trying to reach a sensible compromise and, to some extent, we are learning as we develop the new measures. We will reflect on and consider ideas that would help to create a more coherent framework.