Swinney: UK ministers guilty of ‘neglect’ on labour shortages
The UK Government has been accused of “wilful neglect” over labour shortages caused by Brexit that are “damaging” key sectors of the Scottish economy.
The charge from Deputy First Minister John Swinney came hours after UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted Brexit had been a "factor" in the current fuel crisis, in which a shortage of lorry drivers has caused supply problems and triggered panic buying at filling stations.
Mr Swinney told MSPS: "The damage that is being done to critical sectors in the Scottish economy – seafood, fish processing to name just two – are wilful examples of the neglect in the decision making that’ s been arrived at by the United Kingdom Government.
“We have been indicating for some considerable time that if we lost access to free movement of individuals, there would be a significant and negative impact on the Scottish economy.
"That is exactly what is now happening because of the options and choices made by the UK Government.”
Mr Swinney was reacting to groups such as Scotland Food and drink dismissing measures announced by the UK Government at the weekend as too little and too late.
Mr Shapps said a temporary visa scheme would see 5,000 HGV drivers and 5,500 poultry workers brought in on threemonth contracts in an attempt to ease the shortages.
Mrs win ney said problem areas included social care, where it was proving difficult to recruit enough staff “because of the choices that have been made in the implementation of thebr exit agreement and particularly the abolition of free movement of individuals.”
He said: "We are arguing for the previous European temporary leave to remain scheme should be implemented immediately to allow EU citizens to stay and work in the UK for up to three years.
"We need to have active measures that will overcome the damage done by the abolition of free movement and we need that action to be undertaken immediately by the UK Government.”
Mr Shapps said the primary cause of the short ages had been the cancellation of HGV driver testing last year due to the pandemic. However, he added: "Brexit I hear mentioned a lot and it no doubt will have been a factor.”