Ready and willing

Crofting Inquiry Report

The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting has recommended that Registers of Scotland should take over responsibility for the Register of Crofts.  

The Committee of Inquiry was set up by Scottish Ministers in September 2006 to engage proactively with crofting communities to establish a vision for the future of crofting.  The Committee presented its report to Scottish Ministers at an event in Stornoway on 12 May 2008.

The report was debated in the Scottish Parliament on 15 May 2008 when Michael Russell MSP, Minister for the Environment, explained that Scottish Ministers are to consider the report over the summer.

In response to the report, Sheenagh Adams, Managing Director, RoS said: 

“RoS was fully involved in the consultation on crofting.  We have real expertise in the registration of legal rights and registration services generally.  We look forward to bringing that expertise to bear on the Register of Crofts should the Scottish Government decide to accept the Committee of Inquiry’s recommendation and secure the necessary legislation”.

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Registers Direct upgrade

Registers of Scotland is planning to upgrade the current Registers Direct (RD) online searching system in the coming months. 

The replacement system will contain some functional and presentational improvements. It will also provide a foundation onto which future improvements can be built. 

The RD rollout team within RoS is liaising with those organisations currently using RD and identifying key users who will assist with the migration process and ensure a smooth changeover.

Computer systems will require the following software to run the new version of RD (free to download from www.adobe.com):

• Adobe Reader version 8.1(or above)

• Adobe Flash Player version 9 (or above)

A range of guidance materials will be available to assist users including an online computer based training (CBT) package and tool tips on the RD pages.

The rollout will be carried out in phases. The eServices team will keep users updated as progress is made on the rollout plans.

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Register of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, Registers of Scotland (RoS) was identified as the body to keep the official Register of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

A Site of Special Scientific Interest is an area of land that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) considers to be special for its plants, animals, habitats, its rocks or landforms, or a combination of such natural features.  The Register will contain current information relating to SSSI notifications and notices. 

RoS is working in partnership with SNH and BT on the development of the new Register. Work is progressing well with an expected live date due to be announced later this summer.

The Register will be available online to both the public and legal profession. Searching of the Register will be free of charge.

Further information on the new Register will announced in the next edition.