News that Quality Meat Scotland is taking responsibility for all the industry levy raised in Scotland has raised questions about the future role of the Meat and Livestock Commission. After months of political talks, the Scottish Executive was this week able to claim it had brokered a deal with DEFRA, the Welsh Assembly and the MLC on a new structure for QMS. Consultation on the detail of the proposed changes ­ which will also see QMS take on responsibility for all MLC functions in Scotland ­ starts later this month. Rural affairs minister Ross Finnie said: "QMS must be free to decide on the priorities of the Scottish industry and how the levy in Scotland can best be used." Meanwhile, consultation is also underway in Wales with a view to forming a devolved red meat body for the principality called Antur Cig Cymru. The new body would have three members ­ the MLC, Welsh Development Agency and Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions. Consultation ends on March 22 after which the National Assembly will look at the findings, with a decision due early next month. Should the idea get the go ahead ­ as is highly likely ­ the new Welsh body could be up and running in July. Such a move, on top of the QMS initiative, will intensify the debate about the future role of the MLC. In particular, the devolution of promotional activity to Scotland and Wales places a big question mark over the way British red meat is supported generically. English levy payers are already calling for the creation of their own body ­ dubbed Quality Meat England ­ to focus on their product and not generic activity. And there are concerns about the remaining rump of the MLC, although many of its services are already self financing. A spokesman for the MLC said: "We are looking long and hard at what our strategies and structures should be going forward." l The QMS decision coincided with calls for all Scotch beef to be born, bred and slaughtered in Scotland. See page xxxx for details. {{NEWS }}