McArthur: UK Government stalling on animal welfare budget is shameful

5.31.30pm GMT Thu 25th Mar 2010

Commenting on the news that the UK Government has failed to devolve the animal health budget to Scottish Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs spokesman, Liam McArthur MSP said:

“It is shameful that the UK Government has failed to devolve the animal health budget given that the policy is already set in Scotland.

“Liberal Democrats have long called for Scotland's animal welfare budget to be devolved. Indeed we secured parliamentary support for the proposal back in October 2008.

“The attitude of UK Labour Ministers is reprehensible. The fear remains that budgets will be reduced to zero before being transferred. If that is the case, the Labour party will pay the heavy price with voters in rural areas.