The SNP is celebrating a victory for Scottish farmers as the Tory
Government caved into pressure and amended the Agriculture Bill to
make the Red Meat Levy fair for Scottish farmers. SNP Spokesperson
on Environment and Rural Affairs, Deidre Brock MP’s amendment on
the levy ensured that all monies raised through the proposed scheme
would be devolved for existing levy bodies to decide how to spend.
It will mean nearly £2 million extra funding going into marketing,
promoting and supporting...Request free
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The SNP is celebrating a victory for Scottish farmers as the Tory
Government caved into pressure and amended the Agriculture Bill to
make the Red Meat Levy fair for Scottish farmers.
SNP Spokesperson on Environment and Rural Affairs, ’s amendment on the levy
ensured that all monies raised through the proposed scheme would be
devolved for existing levy bodies to decide how to spend. It will
mean nearly £2 million extra funding going into marketing,
promoting and supporting Scotland’s quality meat sector.
The clause sought to thwart another potential power – and money –
grab and has succeeded. With this and other reassurances now
in place, the SNP MP has indicated that she can now support that
amendment which also has the UK Government’s backing.
Commenting, said:
“I am delighted that common sense has won and that the Tory
government has finally bowed to pressure from the SNP and
Scotland’s farmers, righting a wrong that has seen money that
should have been promoting Scottish products spent elsewhere.
The red meat levy is paid by farmers to help promote the meat
they produce and Scotland’s farmers have seen their money going to
the AHDB to promote English meat.
“The Radcliffe Review back in 2005 recommended an equitable
distribution of levies and the levy boards themselves recommended
changes three years ago – it’s long past time Scotland’s quality
meat got a fair deal. The hard work of Quality Meat Scotland
and the National Farmers Union Scotland have done in campaigning
for this change has finally paid off and I pay tribute to their
stamina and determination.
“Scotland’s farmers have been sold short at every turn by the Tory
government through intent or indifference. With a chaotic, damaging
Brexit fast approaching it’s more important than ever that Scottish
farmers have our full support.
“The SNP will support these amendments to the Agriculture Bill to
ensure Scottish farmers get their equitable share of the levy
monies, and give Scotland’s high quality produce a marketing boost
to help ensure that Scotland has a thriving meat industry in the
future.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The amendment means that the levy when meat is sold would be spent
promoting the products from the country where the animal was
reared, meaning money paid by Scottish farmers would go to
promoting quality Scottish meat rather than being spent
elsewhere.
