Michael Gove has pledged to use “the power of the United Kingdom” to help north-east fishermen and fish processors.
The environment secretary, speaking in the Commons, committed the UK Government to investing in port facilities in Peterhead and Fraserburgh and to providing a marketing budget to promote Scottish produce.
The pledge came after Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid sought reassurances over the government’s post-Brexit strategy for fishing.
Mr Gove said: “The UK Government will work with the Scottish Government in order to make sure we have investment in port facilities in Peterhead and Fraserburgh and also that we have the marketing budget necessary to ensure that the power of our United Kingdom is harnessed to help Scots fishermen and indeed Scottish fish processors.”
Mr Duguid welcomed the commitment, saying the investment showed the government had a “vision for Scotland’s fisheries sector”.
Mr Gove was later pressed by SNP MP Alan Brown on the quotas that would be reserved for UK fishermen, he said: “He has already promised Danish and Iberian fishing fleets that their access to UK waters will continue unhindered after Brexit, how many other promises has he made to other foreign countries?”
Mr Gove responded: “I have promised no such thing, what I have promised is to ensure we are out of the European Union and out of the CFP in stark contrast to the SNP who want to keep us in the EU and in the CFP.
“The SNP and the Scottish Government claim to stand up for Scotland but at every turn they prefer the politics of grievance and the ideology of separation.”
Later in the question session Gordon MP Colin Clark raised concerns over the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendations that firms would have to pay a minimum of £30,000 to recruit workers from outside the UK.
He said: “Abattoirs and food processors are not only worried about seasonal labour but also permanent labour, and are deeply concerned by the approach taken by the Migration Advisory Committee”.
Farming minister Robert Goodwill, responding, said: “We really understand how big an issue this is, 28% of those working in food and drink manufacturing are from the EU, that’s 106,000 people.
“It is important that they understand that, in whichever way we leave the European Union, including no deal, they will still be able to come here and work and participate in these important industries.”
