Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has consistently called for clarity from the UK Government on post-Brexit funding arrangements; whether on the so-called “UK Shared Prosperity Fund”, or on replacements for vital funds such as the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

In doing so, we have also called for the powers of the Scottish Parliament and of Scottish Ministers to be respected. That is a call, however, which has been repeatedly ignored by a UK Government seemingly intent on riding roughshod over devolved competence whenever and wherever it is convenient to do so; as evidenced by their cack-handed approach to seafood sector compensation for the mess the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal created.

Against that challenging backdrop, I am pleased to announce that we are now launching the new Marine Fund Scotland which will replace the EMFF. Full details will be made available on the Scottish Government website from 16:00 today.

Funding will support the delivery of the Blue Economy Action plan, providing vital welcomed investment in the Scottish marine industries; supporting investments in the seafood sectors, the marine environment and coastal communities, while protecting jobs at a time when many businesses are facing acute hardship due to Brexit and Covid.

Our clear and longstanding view remains, however, that the funding provided by the UK Government must match the scale of Scotland’s marine responsibilities and the value of our marine industries; with the funding that the UK Government has provided for Marine Fund Scotland therefore being wholly inadequate.

Based on the EMFF budget for 2021-2027, and on our sea area alone, an equitable and evidence-based funding share would be £62m per annum. Alongside that, the UK Government must also deliver on its promise to provide £100m to support fishing industry innovation and modernisation, with an equitable share for the Scottish catching and processing sectors.

Anything less would effectively mean that Scottish businesses and coastal communities being short-changed; adding insult to the injury of new trade barriers arising from the Brexit deal.

By imposing a one year funding settlement, the UK Government has also significantly and needlessly constrained the long term certainty that marine industries need to make key investment decisions.

The UK Government simply must honour both its commitments on marine funding and its wider legal obligations, and provide the long term clarity that industry expects and deserves. Going forward, that means both ensuring equitable funding, and allowing delivery of such funding in line with devolved competence, and we will continue to hold their feet to the fire on both of those.