Scotland to take over UK animal health budgets in 2011

Animal Health budgets could be devolve to Scotland from April next year, reports the Scottish government.

During a recent meeting with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Ministerial team, Richard Lochhead agreed that both administrations would continue to work together to develop plans that could result in the Scottish government taking control of the Animal Health budget from April 2011.

Some progress was also made towards ensuring that Scotland's case is more clearly represented in Europe with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, stressing the greater significance agriculture and maritime issues have on the Scottish economy in comparison to other UK administrations.

The Cabinet Secretary will work closely with the Defra team to put together a detailed proposal before final decisions are made.