THE Scottish Government has requested £52 million from a contingency fund to prepare for a No-Deal Brexit.
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said the money had been requested with the UK Government appearing to be actively pursuing an “utterly unacceptable” No-Deal outcome.
The funding is aimed at supporting rural communities, increased demand on Marine Scotland and Police Scotland activities, additional communications to EU citizens and poverty mitigation measures.
Mackay said: “This is the minimum requirement for operational activity but the real costs of a ‘No-Deal’ Brexit will massively outweigh these and further funding will be required.
“Exiting the EU was not Scotland’s choice and the Scottish Government has been clear that any related costs must be covered by the UK Government.
“The Scottish Government should not have to cut spending on public services to fund Brexit preparations.”
He added: “We will continue make the case for staying in the EU and will stand firm against efforts to take us out against our will.”
Boris Johnson will arrive today in New York. where he is due to meet Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel for discussions on Brexit, Iran and the climate crisis at the United Nations.
The Prime Minister will also meet with European Council president Donald Tusk and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
There are still mixed signals over the possibility of a Brexit deal. Last week EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker said it is still possible, but Ireland’s deputy prime minister Simon Coveney said a “wide gap” remains between Johnson and the bloc.
A Scottish Conservative spokesman said it was the only party which had worked to prevent No-Deal by supporting a deal.
He added: “The SNP were given £92m for our councils to prepare for Brexit.
“Yet there is no evidence Scottish local authorities have received anything at all.”
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