The move is under discussion between Levy Board UK (LBUK) and Quality Meat Scotland (QMC) and its Welsh equivalent, HCC, ahead of the setting up of the new UK-wide organisation on 1 April when the Scottish and Welsh bodies become government quangos.

LBUK chairman-designate John Bridge revealed the likely deal when he spoke to the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Great Britain annual meeting in London.

Any return of cash would be a welcome boost for QMS which annually bemoans the loss of levy income from Scottish lambs in particular as many of these are now processed in England and at Welsh Country Foods in Anglesey.

Traditionally, all levy income has been kept by the country where the animal is slaughtered and processed. But Bridge said equity was needed and LBUK was committed to resolving the matter with both QMS and HCC.

He admitted that another challenge for LBUK will be in ensuring that appropriate arrangements are set up for communicating and working with QMS and HCC.

Source: BUSINESS.scotsman.com