WITH just 101 days to go to Brexit, the UK Cabinet yesterday found £2 billion to cope with a no-deal Brexit and also put the armed forces on standby to handle the problems that seem inevitable come March 29 next year.
It can also be revealed that Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney is holding weekly resilience meetings to prepare for a no-deal scenario.
Scottish Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell said the Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGoRR) – commonly used to deal with national emergencies such as terror attacks, extreme weather or pandemics – was meeting each week.
Swinney chairs the meetings, which started on December 4, while Cabinet ministers for health, justice, transport and finance contribute alongside organisations including Police Scotland.
The equivalent UK Government emergency apparatus, known as COBRA, has also been activated and is meeting regularly.
In a statement in the chamber at the Holyrood Parliament, Russell urged the UK Government to immediately rule out no deal and made clear that, while the Scottish Government would do everything it could, there would still be severe damage to the Scottish economy and society.
The resilience team is preparing for severe disruption of goods at UK borders due to new customs arrangements in a no-deal scenario, maintaining food security and the ability of Scottish food and drink producers to export their goods to the EU, and safeguarding the supply of medicines, medical devices and workforces for health and social care.
Russell said: “A no-deal Brexit is not yet inevitable – indeed, neither is leaving the EU at all – and I once again urge the Prime Minister to rule out a no deal.
“But as a responsible Government we cannot wait any longer. The consequences and risks are too pressing and too severe.
“Let me say that whilst this Government will do everything we can to prepare, we must not let anyone believe we can do everything.
“What a tragedy it is that we must take action for a no-deal exit as a result of the UK Government, to mitigate against the severe impacts on Scotland and the irreparable damage to our economy, our people and our society.
“Our attempts to ensure continuing supplies of medicines are being severely hampered by the refusal of the UK Government to provide us with critical information about which medicines may be subject to supplier problems. It is imperative that they provide this information now.”
Scottish Conservative Adam Tomkins said: “The truth is that there does not need to be any risk at all of a no-deal Brexit for the simple reason that there is a deal on the table – a concluded, negotiated Withdrawal Agreement.
“A Withdrawal Agreement which I support, but which SNP MPs are set to vote down.”
Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay said the UK Government must end the Brexit “madness”. He said: “The Tories are taking Britain to the brink in a game of chance that risks everything to try and save this incompetent and useless Government.”
Theresa May’s Cabinet ministers yesterday agreed to activate all of the Government’s no-deal plans and urged businesses to consider implementing their own contingency plans, adding that households should also make preparations.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson told the House of Commons that some 3500 troops will be “held at readiness” to help with a no-deal Brexit. Advice is to be issued to private individuals through online websites, adverts and direct communications over the coming weeks on actions which they should take. Areas covered are expected to include bank card payments in the EU and travelling to the EU with pets.
Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay warned unless MPs back May’s deal when it returns to the Commons, the default option is to leave without any exit arrangement in place.
He said: “Parliament needs to back the deal because the consequence of not doing so is we risk the default of no deal, and a responsible Government must prepare for that eventuality. That is what we agreed at Cabinet. That is what we are going to do.”
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