Fife businesses need more time to prepare for life outside EU
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Neale Hanvey, who represents Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, expressed his concerns with just six months to go before the deadline to reach a deal between the UK and EU.
In an urgent question in Westminster, the SNP MP quizzed Penny Mordaunt MP, UK Government Paymaster General, over the lack of clarity about future regulations that has been provided to parliamentarians and businesses.
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Hide AdMr Hanvey said that it was unreasonable for businesses in Fife, and across Scotland, to be expected to make significant preparations over the next six months while battling the impact of a global pandemic.
Mr Hanvey aid: “I asked the Minister five simple questions and didn’t receive one clear answer.
“Businesses in my constituency need to prepare for life after December 31.
“They need to know what tariffs will apply, what regulations they’ll need to follow, what customs processes will apply, if and how people and data will be able to cross borders, and whether professional qualifications will be recognised.
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Hide Ad“The reality is this – a deal needs to be signed at the latest in October, to give time for it to be ratified by the UK and EU parliaments. That is simply not going to happen.
“If the UK Government doesn’t see sense and ask for an extension to the transition period, then businesses in Fife, and across the rest of Scotland, are going to be hit with a catastrophe just as they are trying to rebuild following the economic impact of coronavirus.”
Concern was also expressed by one Fife business.
Stuart Nicol, service director at The Evolve Group in Burntisland, said: “Pushing Brexit through this year regardless of impact to both the UK and Scottish economies would strike me as being reckless beyond belief.
“It would make much more sense to take a bit more time and ensure that we get the best deal possible – or better still, review the situation and re-assess, as this is not a decision which is going to be good for the economy as a whole and that’s particularly true in Scotland.
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Hide Ad“As things stand for the four UK Nations, Brexit will have the most extreme impact on Scotland’s economy, and we need to ensure that we avoid that if we can.”
Mr Hanvey’s questions in parliament can be watched online:
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