The Scottish Government’s Transport Secretary Michael Matheson is pressing the UK Government to ensure that Scotland’s time sensitive exports like seafood can continue to reach mainland Europe if there is a no deal EU exit.

Matheson said that with an annual value of £944 million, seafood accounts for about 58% of Scotland’s total food exports.

Matheson has written to UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to demand that Scotland’s critical exports are given priority access to the additional ferry capacity secured by the UK Government when it is not being used to transport essential supplies.

Matheson said: “The Scottish Government is clear that remaining in the EU is in Scotland’s best interests, however we have to plan for all possible outcomes, including a no deal exit which would have serious consequences for our exports and wider economy.

“With an annual value of £944 million, seafood accounts for fifty-eight per cent of Scotland’s total food exports. Seafood is highly perishable and therefore dependent on the sort of swift and reliable transport connections which would be damaged by a disorderly UK exit from the EU.

“The Scottish Government has, on a number of occasions, sought to have seafood and other time critical exports prioritised through Kent and Dover.

“We have also asked that these exports are given priority access to the additional ferry capacity secured by the UK Government where this is not required for essential supplies.

“So far, these requests have been refused.

“This lack of support for exporting businesses, which threatens the livelihoods of many in Scotland especially in our more remote and rural communities, is of great concern to us and to the industries affected.

“The current situation, which puts at risk jobs and livelihoods, is simply not acceptable.

“I am asking the UK Government to look again at the issues of prioritisation, and more generally at what assurance they can give businesses that their critical routes to market will be maintained in the event of a no deal.”