Highland 2010: Scots to take control of animal health

Scotland could finally take control of its Animal Health budget from next April following “constructive talks” between the DEFRA ministerial team and the Scottish Government this week.

Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead told an industry breakfast on the opening day of the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston that the long fight by the Scottish Government for a devolved animal health budget was finally coming to fruition.

The Scottish administration was also making progress on ensuring their case was more clearly represented in Europe, Mr Lochhead said.

He added: “This is a positive move which will be warmly welcomed by agricultural stakeholders.”

Mr Lochhead met rural affairs secretary Caroline Spelman and farm minister Jim Paice and also pressed for levy money to be repatriated to Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) to support more lamb promotion in Scotland.

NFU Scotland chief executive James Withers said it was “about time” that some progress was made on the animal health budget issue.

“There was a clear indication of feet dragging by the previous administration,” he said.

“The new mood music from London as regards working with the devolved Scottish Government has been very good. That relationship could come to fruition when it comes to detailed negotiations over the CAP in the early hours of the morning.”