Aberdeenshire not receiving enough no-deal preparation funds, says Michael Gove

The Aberdeen-raised minister in charge of overseeing the UK's preparations for leaving the EU without deal says he is "deeply worried" by the lack of funding being allocated to Aberdeenshire amongst other Scottish local authorities in order to prepare them for the eventuality of a no-deal Brexit.

Conservative MP for West-Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Andrew Bowie, challenged Gove on the matter during a debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday when the chamber was debating the UK's no-deal preparations, asking the minister: "How much money that has been sent north has made its way to local authorities in Scotland that need to take relevant action?".

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster says he is "deeply worried"

Responding, Mr. Gove said: "The Scottish Government have this afternoon published their own no-deal preparations. I have scanned them in detail and I cannot see that money has gone to the local authorities most in need.

"A miserly £50,000 has gone to each local authority in Scotland. That is not enough to ensure that local authorities such as Aberdeenshire have the capacity to issue the export health certificates that the fishing industry needs.

"I am deeply worried that the Scottish Government, despite containing many good Ministers, are not passing on the money that we are giving to them for Scotland’s citizens".

The Scottish Government's no-deal Brexit plans, published yesterday and available here, includes a commitment to create a £7 million 'Rapid Poverty Mitigation Fund' and the establishment of a medicine shortage group.

Some have criticised the Scottish Government's failure to distribute no-deal funds from Westminster to local authorities, accusing the SNP of looking to worsen the effects of a no-deal exit from the EU to boost support for independence. Last week, however, the First Minister said of a no-deal Brexit: "I won't support something like that, because Scotland doesn't support that".