PROPOSALS TO fix the issue of red meat levy repatriation by April of next year have been rejected by the UK Government.

Last year, Westminster acknowledged that there was an issue with levy funds being collected off Scottish livestock sold south of the border; however it will not commit to a timeframe to sort the issue.

During a reading of the UK Agricultural Bill in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Deirdre Brock MP put forward an amendment calling for the ‘equitable distribution’ of red meat levy bodies to be made ‘timeously’ with an implementation date for April next year.

Defra minister Victoria Prentis rejected that deadline as ‘inappropriate’ and the amendment was voted down seven votes to 10.

Ms Prentis said: “It is essential that adequate time is allowed for the full and careful development of a redistribution scheme allowing for due consideration and consultation in order to provide a really workable solution. The amendment provides a short timeframe in which to create a new scheme, imposing such a deadline is not appropriate as it is important that we consult properly on how the redistribution of red meat levy is delivered and administrations must have time to agree the scheme.”

SNP farming spokesperson Ms Brock said she was exasperated by UK Government ‘inaction’ on the red meat levy: “The red meat levy fiasco has gone on for more than a decade. The levy boards came up with a workable solution back in 2015 and we finally got the UK Government to agree to do something about it when it first tried to pass the Agriculture Bill last year and that agreement is still in the new Bill.

“I asked Defra's Ms Prentis to agree to make sure that the new scheme would be in place by April 2021 – still giving Defra more than a year to get it running – but she refused. The lack of will to get this sorted and give Scottish farmers the benefits of their levy cash is frustrating, and I’m exasperated by the lack of movement.”

An announcement was made last week that ring-fenced funds for the collaborative work between levy boards in Scotland, England and Wales would be increased from £2m to £3.5m – however, these funds won’t be specific to marketing Scotch red meat brands.

Quality Meat Scotland chief executive Alan Clarke said: “The three levy boards have also agreed the methodology of a new scheme, which is currently with the UK Government, and are internally working towards a April 1, 2021 deadline for full levy repatriation.

“It is therefore extremely frustrating that this date for full implementation has been deemed ‘an inappropriate timeline’ and that the UK Government is calling for further consultation on a principle and solution first detailed in 2017, especially as the three levy boards have worked hard to be in a position to apply the methodology from next year.

“The Scottish red meat industry misses out on around £1.2m of Scottish producer levy per year which is trapped in England," said Mr Clarke. "This money would make a substantial difference to the activity QMS undertakes, both individually and collaboratively with AHDB and HCC, to promote and protect the Scottish red meat industry and further market the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork brands,” he urged.

A Scottish Government spokesperson echoed QMS' concerns: “While we welcome the UK Government’s agreement for the Red Meat Levy to remain within the UK Agriculture Bill, it is disappointing that it has not been able to guarantee that the permanent solution will be in place by April next year, despite it recognising the inequality of the current situation.

“We have been pushing the UK Government on this for some time and its Farming Minister agrees that it is vital that an appropriate and equitable scheme is delivered soon. So to suggest that further time is needed for the levy bodies and governments to consult on a scheme and principle that has already been agreed is unsatisfactory – we remain clear that the levy repatriation should happen as quickly as possible.”

NFU Scotland livestock committee chairman Jimmy Ireland added: “NFU Scotland is on record as stating that more should be spent on marketing our highly regarded brands, Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI. That is why we are looking at proposals that would seek an increase to levies collected here in Scotland.”