STEVENSON WELCOMES NFU SCOTLAND’S BACKING FOR DEVOLUTION OF ANIMAL HEALTH BUDGET

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed NFU Scotland’s call for the animal health Holyrood control after a National Audit Office (NAO) report criticised record on financial reporting of animal disease control. The report, by the NAO, condemns the way Defra presents its financial information in respect of animal health issues and also says that financial information from Defra cannot be used to calculate accurate figures for the full costs of managing specific animal diseases.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“This latest call for more power to be devolved to Holyrood only serves to underline how poorly Westminster serves Scottish interests. Three reports in 2002 showed that Scotland had handled the foot and mouth outbreak more effectively than Westminster and it is entirely right that Scotland should gain financial control to address such issues.

“Scotland has proven its effectiveness at handling animal health and welfare and I welcome these calls for greater financial responsibility to go with existing powers.

“While Gordon Brown may think taking control of such issues back to Westminster is the way forward, it is not a view shared by the farming industry in Scotland. The animal health budget for Scotland should be devolved to match the responsibility for policy that already lies with Holyrood.”