Mairi Gougeon, SNP Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and the Islands, has successfully submitted a motion condemning the UK Government’s damaging and bizarre decision to award a paltry 7.78% of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to Scotland.
What is the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund and why is it important?
The aim of this fund is primarily to modernise and revitalise the UK’s fishing fleet and boost local economies. The fund will also have a training function that will ensure the next generation of fishers will be able to exploit this important natural resource in a sustainable way for future generations.
The UK Government states that,
“Devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be responsible for spending the money to best meet the needs of their fishing and coastal communities.
“This will allow the funding to be targeted to where it matters most, with devolved governments able to work in collaboration with their local fishing industries to prioritise regional needs and best support their coastal towns and villages.’’
“Devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be responsible for spending the money to best meet the needs of their fishing and coastal communities.
“This will allow the funding to be targeted to where it matters most, with devolved governments able to work in collaboration with their local fishing industries to prioritise regional needs and best support their coastal towns and villages.’’
Why is the Scottish Parliament so agitated by this settlement?
The issue is not the principal of the Fund but the amount of money that has been allocated to the Scottish Government by the UK Government in Westminster.
Mairi Gougeon stated,
“Scotland accounts for more than 60% of the UK’s fishing capacity – yet this UK Labour Government thinks it is acceptable to give us just 7.78% of the funding. It is completely unjustifiable and an insult to the sector in Scotland.
“As part of the EU, Scotland received 46% of the funding allocated to the UK – but with the Labour Government seeking to cut this down to a tiny fraction, it begins to look like Westminster is using Brexit for a cash grab for the sector south of the border.
“I am asking MSPs from all parties to come together today and make clear that this is completely unacceptable and the UK Government must reverse this decision.
“And there is a critical challenge for Scottish Labour here. Will they stand up for a crucial Scottish industry and its workforce, or will they once again stand up for Keir Starmer?
“Scotland’s fishing industry is being shortchanged by Westminster to the tune of more than a hundred million pounds. Today, our Parliament can unite to make clear that this is a completely unacceptable insult and to demand that the UK Government provide a fair deal for Scotland.”
The result
94 for, 23 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote. Full result here.
Mairi Gougeon added,
“The SNP Government will continue to support industry stakeholder’s calls for fairness. But if the UK Government continues with this deeply damaging approach, they will be making clear that they simply do not understand or even care about Scotland’s fishing industry – and we should take these decisions ourselves with the fresh start of independence.
“A viable fishing industry supporting economically vibrant coastal towns and villages around Scotland are in all our interests. We look forward to a better settlement from the Labour Government in Westminster.”
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