EXTRA cash for Scotland as a result of the UK Government’s spending review is not enough to prevent the economic damage that will be caused by a No-Deal Brexit, Holyrood’s Finance Secretary has said.
An additional £1.2 billion will come north as a consequence of Sajid Javid’s announcements, with the Chancellor declaring
he is “turning the page on austerity” as he embarked on a spending spree.
But Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said the money announced “gives us no greater certainty, does not undo the damage of austerity, fails to protect us from Brexit and simply gives just some of the money owed to Scotland”.
Mackay added: “The reality is that the money announced today will fail to mitigate the harm caused to Scotland’s economy and public services if we leave the EU without a deal on October 31.
“Scotland’s economy is already being impacted by Brexit austerity.”
He claimed Scotland had “lost out on” more than £12bn of cash in real terms over the last decade.
With Javid having promised a review of the UK fiscal framework, the Finance Secretary said arrangements between the Treasury and the devolved governments must be included in this.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack hailed the funding as “great news for Scotland”, claiming it would “ensure we are ready to seize new opportunities as we leave the EU on October 31”.
But the SNP’s Ian Blackford, said: “This is money that came from the EU that was meant to be given to Scottish farmers and crofters from 2016. Three years too late, the cash is coming to Scotland. Cash that should already be in the pockets of farmers and crofters.”
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