The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Doubts over PM’ s vow to compensate Scottish fishermen
Boris Johnson’s promise to “compensate” the Scottish seafood sector, which has been battered by border delays, has been thrown into doubt by the environment secretary.
The prime minister told MPS on Wednesday that the UK Government “will compensate” Scottish fishing firms, which have reported multi-millionpound losses since the Brexit transition ended on December 31.
The commitment was initially welcomed, but many in the industry are now uncertain whether such a compensation scheme even exists, after ministers repeatedly dodged pleas for more information. Environment Secretary George Eustice was asked on seven occasions to confirm that there was a scheme and on seven occasions he failed to respond.
Mr Eustice, in response to an urgent question from Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael, would only say that the government “remains open to considering compensation for sectors that might have been affected through no fault of their own”.
He went on to describe the chaos being endured by the industry as “teething problems”, adding: “Once people get used to using the paperwork, goods will flow normally.”
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross later tried to press the minister for more details, telling him a compensation scheme “is clearly needed by our fishermen right across the country”.
He added: “I’ve been contacted by many fishermen here in Moray and across Scotland, raising their serious concerns and frustrations about the current situation.”
Mr Ross shared the story of a local skipper whose catch is currently worth “half of what he needs to cover his costs”, adding: “So, can the secretary of state outline the discussions that he’s having with the Scottish Government regarding the problems with the compensation scheme that is clearly needed by our fishermen right across the country?”
Mr Eustice said he was having “numerous conversations” to resolve the border delays, before adding: “I would say that January is always the slowest month in the fish trade and the coronavirus pandemic has caused a lot of problems on the export market generally.”
Following the Commons exchanges, Mr Carmichael said: “George Eustice repeating the prime minister’s blithe assertion that all the disruption for fishermen is just ‘teething problems’ suggests a total lack of engagement with the real issues, which are growing day by day.”
Is anyone taking seriously the issue of the Scottish fishing industry’s imminent catastrophe? Since the UK formally left the European Union at the turn of the year, the sector across the country has been bedevilled.
Politicians have been told tales of previously thriving businesses facing collapse, almost overnight.
Seafood firms are experiencing delays in getting their produce to key EU markets.
Boats are berthing elsewhere than Scotland to sell their catches. Prices have collapsed.
This is not the Brexit promised to fishermen, the majority of whom were backers of the breakaway.
The reaction from those in charge has been pitiful.
Scotland Office Minister David Duguid could not give a timeframe – or any sense of urgency – for clearing up the mess.
Westminster fisheries minister Victoria Prentis has admitted she did not read the exit deal as she was organising a Nativity event.
To guffaws in the Commons, Leader of the House, Jacob Reesmogg said he did not mind fish rotting in ports as they are “happier, British fish”.
Such insouciance must infuriate businesses losing tens of thousands of pounds a day.
Action must be taken now, before livelihoods are lost. There is no point winning back full control of British waters for the country’s fishing industry if it no longer exists.