The SNP have failed to spend the money it has been given to prepare for Brexit and Councils in Scotland are yet to receive any financial support, it has been revealed.
The news comes as the Scottish Government are demanding an extra £17 million to fund additional costs which they expect to arise as a result of Brexit.
The Scottish Government has received £37.3 million in 2018-19 and £55 million in 2019-20 to prepare for leaving the EU, as a result of Barnett consequentials. However, in 2018-19, the Scottish Government did not spend all of the funding that they were allocated for EU exit, instead spending £10 million on other priorities.
And in contrast to in England where councils have received £56.5 million in the past two years, no money the Scottish Government has received has been passed on to councils.
Despite this lack of financial support, Scottish Borders Council has set up a Brexit Taskforce to support local services and businesses as the UK leaves the EU. The group has been advising the council and last reported in November 2018.
Commenting, John Lamont MP said: “On an almost daily basis we hear from the SNP Government about the challenges of Brexit. Yet incredibly we now know that the Scottish Government hasn’t even spent the money it has been given to prepare for Brexit.
“In England, councils have received nearly £60 million, yet the SNP have provided no financial support for our own councils.
“The fact that the SNP are now demanding more money just goes to show they are more interested in manufacturing a grievance than being a responsible Government.
“Scottish Borders Council are quite rightly making plans to ensure that as we leave the EU there is minimal disruption for services and for businesses. And they are doing this without any support from the Scottish Government.”