Sir, – In their interesting article on the need for greater recognition and support for High Nature Value (HNV) farming and crofting within a new agriculture support structure, Ruth Taylor and Andrew Midgley advise that there is no 'oven ready scheme to hand to the government.'

That needn’t have been the case. Almost three years ago when the then Cabinet Secretary, Fergus Ewing, provided the Crofting Commission with additional funding for crofting development, it was recommended that a small percentage would be well spent on preparing a specific crofting element for the forthcoming reform of the agriculture.

This seemed reasonable given that two years previously the commission itself had commissioned a report on how crofting fared within the current structure. Indeed, in its policy plan, the Commission specifically recognised that significant changes to support would emanate from post-Brexit restructuring.

Consequently, it gave a commitment to ensure 'that the case for crofting would be heard in this process.' Presented on the basis that it would be better for crofting to put something on the table than have it accept the crumbs that fall from it, the Commission, despite its stated commitment, decided that wasn’t part of its role.

By now a well prepared crofting cake could be oven ready if not already in the oven. Some 15 years ago, the most comprehensive examination undertaken of crofting over the past 70 years, the Shucksmith Report, identified this as an area in need of further detailed research 'to identify measures relevant to crofting areas and their diversity'.

It seems strange that a public body specifically resourced and legislatively required to promote the interests of crofting should consider this crucial element irrelevant to that role.

John Toal, Boline, Inverness.