Gove ‘deeply worried’ about Scottish Government’s no-deal Brexit preparations

Michael Gove has said he is “deeply worried” about the Scottish Government’s no-deal Brexit preparations, claiming money is not being passed on to local authorities most in need.

Speaking in the Commons, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said he has “scanned” through plans published by the Scottish Government, but cannot see that money will go where it is most needed.

He told the House that the Scottish Government’s plans would amount to a “miserly” £50,000 going to each local authority in Scotland.

Tory MP Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) said there are concerns about Scotland’s preparations for a no-deal Brexit and asked whether the Government had spoken about measures to make sure communities are protected.

Mr Gove said: “The Scottish Government have published this afternoon their own no-deal preparations, and I scanned them in detail and I can’t see, actually, that money has gone to the local authorities most in need.

“A miserly £50,000 has gone to each local authority in Scotland, that is not enough to ensure that local authorities like Aberdeenshire have the capacity to issue the export health certificates that the fishing industry needs, and I am deeply worried that the Scottish Government, despite containing many good ministers, is not passing on the money that we are giving to them for Scotland’s citizens.”