Sporting rates rethink on deer welcomed, but gaps remain

Press Release

A rethink on sporting rates applied to deer management has been welcomed by rural businesses – with a caution that more needs to be done on exemptions for game management.

Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, commented after the Scottish Government announced a series of targeted exemptions relating to sporting rates.

In new secondary legislation, deer shooting will be exempt from sporting rates where:

• culls are undertaken solely for the purposes of environmental management or preventing damage or a combination thereof. 
• culled deer are made available for human consumption as venison. 

Other exemptions are also in place for various forms of leased or tenanted farms, and where shooting rights are not exercised in practice.

However, SLE said that big question marks remained over shooting rates for family farms and owner-occupied land – particularly where shooting for game occurs. 

Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland and Strategic Projects at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “This rethink on deer management is a welcome step and reflects the concerns that rural businesses have consistently raised. Culling deer is often essential for environmental management and preventing damage, and it should not be treated as a commercial sporting enterprise where that is not the case.

“The new exemptions show that the Scottish Government has listened, which is much appreciated – but the job is not finished. Questions remain about how sporting rates will affect family farms and owner-occupied land where occasional or small-scale game shooting forms part of a wider farming operation. Many of these operations are informal without any commercial gain, or modest in scale and operating on tight margins.

“There is also scope to expand the exemption relating to food production. Ministers have rightly recognised that the production of venison engages the exemption clause. This should similarly apply to other game meats which are renowned for being healthy, lean and nutritious.   

“As an organisation, we’re pleased that the Finance Secretary has strengthened the reliefs package for non-domestic rates in other sectors, and it is to her credit that she has listened to the widespread concerns expressed by Scottish businesses.

“Clarity and fairness are essential for rural businesses as well, however. They need confidence that they will not be hit with unexpected rates bills simply for carrying out responsible land management.”