Carmichael seeks ‘Horse tax’ assurances from Scottish Government

9.58.00am GMT Tue 24th Nov 2009

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has written to the Scottish Government Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead MSP seeking his assurances that the Scottish government have no plans to introduce an annual ’horse tax’ as proposed in England and Wales.

DEFRA earlier this year published its consultation ‘An independent body for animal health: a modern governance and funding structure for tackling animal diseases’. In the report DEFRA proposes devolving responsibility for animal health to a new independent body with an annual tax on all horse owners proposed to help pay for the new body.

Commenting Mr Carmichael said;

“I have written to Richard Lochhead asking for his assurances that the Scottish government have no plans to introduce anything as stupid as the proposed ‘horse tax’ north of the border. A number of constituents have already contacted me with their concerns that this proposed annual tax will create yet another layer of costly bureaucracy hitting island based horse owners the hardest. There is great concern over how the levy will affect pony breeders across the Isles and I will be following developments in this matter closely.”

Defra has suggested £10.50 as a likely annual charge per horse, whilst the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) have raised concerns that the actual rate of the levy may be significantly higher with some predictions saying the levy could be as much as £100 per year per horse.