Consultations
ScotGov: Views are being sought on a range of measures to create a system of crofting 'fit for the 21st century'. Launching a consultation (closes on 12 August 2009) into the draft Crofting Reform Bill, Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, has demanded an end to the 'corrosive effect of absenteeism, neglect and speculation' and the development of a system which allowed crofters to shape their own destiny.
The proposals include:
* New Area Committees of the Crofters Commission to improve transparency, democracy & accountability
* An improved Crofting Register to reduce disputes over boundaries & rights
* Granting standard security over croft tenancies allowing crofters to access financial products
* An occupancy requirement for houses built on land taken out of crofting tenure that will address the damaging effect of speculation on croft land
* Tightening existing requirements on crofters to be resident on, or near the croft, and to work the land
Press release ~ Draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill Consultation Paper ~ Crofters Commission ~ Crofting Register ~ Committee of Inquiry on Crofting Report ~ Scottish Government response to the Committee of Inquiry Report ~ Crofting information
HO: New controls for a range of substances including GBL have been set out in two public consultations (both closing on 13 August 2009). The aim is to prevent the misuse of GBL, 1,4 BD, BZP and a range of anabolic steroids as part of the Home Office's drug strategy and its commitment to responding to the changing drugs environment and emerging threats to public health.
GBL (gamma-butyrolactone) and its precursor 1,4 BD (1,4-butanediol) have wide legitimate uses as solvents but can be converted into the Class C controlled drug GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) in the body. The consultation sets out three options for control and invites industry, commerce and the general public to set out to the Government the potential impacts of the different approaches.
The second consultation sets out the Government's intention to control BZP (1- benzylpiperazine) as a Class C drug. It also makes clear the Home Office's aim, in line with the advice published last week from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, to control a group of related compounds or substituted piperazines that have the same or very similar harms to BZP.
The consultation also sets out the Government's intention to update the list of steroids currently controlled as Class C drugs by adding a further 24 anabolic steroids and two non-steroidal substances to the class.
Press release ~ Proposed control of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD) ~ Proposed control of 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP) and a group of substituted piperazines, and an additional 24 anabolic steroids and 2 non-steroidal agents ~ HO - Drugs ~ Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs ~
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