Loss of red meat levy dispute nearing an end

QMS: £2million to spend for benefit of sector in England, Scotland, Wales

The long-running dispute over the loss of red meat levies from Scottish-born animals slaughtered south of the border is near an end, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) chief executive Alan Clarke revealed yesterday.

Speaking at the red meat levy body’s annual press briefing in Edinburgh, Mr Clarke provided an update on levy repatriation discussions between QMS and its counterparts in England and Wales.

“We have agreed that there is trapped money in England from Scotland and Wales, and currently there is a ring-fence of £2million that can be used from April going forward. That money can be used for the benefit of the red meat sector in England, Wales and Scotland,” said Mr Clarke.

He said full proposals for the spending, which will be available for use from April 1, 2018, would be revealed in the New Year. Initial ideas on areas to spend the money included health and research, Brexit and international trade shows.

Mr Clarke said annual red meat levy income for the year ended March 31, 2016, was slightly down on last year at just under £4million.

Total income for the year, including levies, was £6.437million – up from £6.29million previously.

Total expenditure for the year was £6.445million. This included £2.489million on marketing and promotions, £892,154 on industry development and £1.6million on assurance scheme operating costs.

Mr Clarke said 77% of external levy spend was on customer and consumer-facing activities, mainly the marketing and promotion of Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork, while industry development activities accounted for 14% of spend.

QMS chairman Jim McLaren said although grant income, mainly from Europe, was important to the organisation, its core financial plans were always based on its own guaranteed income.

RED MEAT SPENDING: Quality Meat Scotland chief executive Alan Clarke says the levy repatriation issue could soon be solved