Dundee West Labour
3 July 2019
Millions of pounds intended to help Scotland prepare for a no-deal Brexit has been secretly spent on other things by the SNP Government, Scottish Labour can reveal.
In 2018/19, the SNP government received £37.3million in Barnett consequentials from the UK Government’s £1.5billion Brexit preparation fund.
However, in a parliamentary answer to Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie MSP, SNP Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has admitted he spent £10million of the fund on other matters.
The SNP government has received a further £54.7million in the current financial year, but Mr Mackay has refused to reveal what the money has been spent on across the devolved portfolios.
The unaccounted for spending comes amid warnings from the independent Scottish Fiscal Commission that the SNP government is facing a £1billion black hole in its books.
Scottish Labour MSP Jackie Baillie MSP said:
“The SNP’s decision to blow £10million of no deal Brexit funding has left Scottish businesses and the jobs they support at risk.
“Derek Mackay is doubling down on the Tories’ economic incompetence with this decision.
“A no deal Brexit will never be a credible option, but neither is blowing preparation funding which could shield Scottish businesses from the worst excesses of a new Tory Prime Minister.
“Derek Mackay and the SNP should come clean over why they have misused this funding and what they intend to do to ensure Scottish jobs are not put at risk from their actions.”
Millions of pounds intended to help Scotland prepare for a no-deal Brexit has been secretly spent on other things by the SNP Government, Scottish Labour can reveal.
In 2018/19, the SNP government received £37.3million in Barnett consequentials from the UK Government’s £1.5billion Brexit preparation fund.
However, in a parliamentary answer to Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie MSP, SNP Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has admitted he spent £10million of the fund on other matters.
The SNP government has received a further £54.7million in the current financial year, but Mr Mackay has refused to reveal what the money has been spent on across the devolved portfolios.
The unaccounted for spending comes amid warnings from the independent Scottish Fiscal Commission that the SNP government is facing a £1billion black hole in its books.
Scottish Labour MSP Jackie Baillie MSP said:
“The SNP’s decision to blow £10million of no deal Brexit funding has left Scottish businesses and the jobs they support at risk.
“Derek Mackay is doubling down on the Tories’ economic incompetence with this decision.
“A no deal Brexit will never be a credible option, but neither is blowing preparation funding which could shield Scottish businesses from the worst excesses of a new Tory Prime Minister.
“Derek Mackay and the SNP should come clean over why they have misused this funding and what they intend to do to ensure Scottish jobs are not put at risk from their actions.”