The Scottish Government has launched a consultation regarding its Croft House Grant Scheme (CHGS).

The scheme provides financial assistance for improving and maintaining crofter housing in the remote Highlands and Islands areas.

The consultation, which launched this week, will run for 12 weeks and the government is now looking for opinions to help shape the scheme and its payment rates in the future.

Commenting, Dr Aileen McLeod, Crofting Minister, said: "Crofting is vital to communities, the economy and the environment in Scotland's remote and fragile areas, and generated an estimated revenue of almost £86 million last year.

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"By law, crofters have to live on or close to their croft which can present challenges in terms of availability and quality of suitable housing.

"We know those are major factors in rural depopulation and so by offering financial assistance for constructing and upgrading residential properties, the Croft House Grant Scheme is helping to attract and retain people in our remote, rural and island communities."

Dr McLeod continued: "The CHGS launched 10 years ago and although building costs have gone up, the assistance rates we are able to contribute have not. While I am sympathetic to the case for increasing the size of grants on offer I need evidence to make a decision that will benefit our remote and rural communities.

"That is why it is so important for as many people as possible to respond to this consultation."

The Croft House Grant Scheme Consultation will close on March 31, 2015. It can be accessed online.

(JP/CD)