ADMG has received confirmation from Scottish Government that the removal of the exemption for non-domestic rates for deer management which was proposed in the Scottish Budget last month will be amended.
We have been advised that through secondary legislation the qualification for exemption from non-domestic rates will be extended to cover:
(i) deer forests on which –
(aa)shooting rights are exercised solely for the purposes of environmental management or for preventing damage to woodland or to agricultural production, or a combination of those purposes, and
(bb)any deer shot are made available for human consumption as venison, and
(ii)deer forests on which shooting rights are not exercised in practice
Tom Turnbull, ADMG Chair, says:
“This is an important rethink. We have been in regular contact with Scottish Government officials since the announcement of the removal of the exemption in the Scottish Budget and those concerns have clearly been listened to.
“We are grateful to the Minister and to those MSPs with whom we have engaged who have recognised the proposed removal of the exemption as flawed, and appreciate that this change has been delivered so timeously.
“The interpretation of the assessors will be vital but we believe this new exemption proposed via secondary legislation should now cover the vast majority of our members for their deer management and venison production activities.”
Link to the Statutory Instrument here.