Date Time
UK Government and seafood industry make good progress on exports
Temporary issues felt in the seafood supply chain are steadily improving, UK Government Minister for Scotland David Duguid heard in a meeting he chaired today with senior figures in the industry.
“The UK Government has been striving night and day to help the industry and I am encouraged that solutions now in place are beginning to bear fruit,” he said after the latest meeting of the Scottish Seafood Export Working Group, attended online by the Scottish Seafood Association and Scottish Fishermen’s Federation.
The Minister also spoke with DFDS, the logistics experts who operate the Larkhall hub, through which much of Scotland’s seafood exports pass.
It is one of 28 walk-through facilities opened by the UK Government across Scotland. People should only book at test if they have coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature, a new and continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste) or have been told to seek a test by a clinician or an NHS tracer. Tests must be booked in advance at: www.nhsinform.scot/test-and-protect or by calling 0800 028 2816. Tests in this centre are self-administered and this involves taking a swab of the nose and the back of the throat. The process is reportedly simple, only takes a few minutes, and full instructions are provided. Staff are on hand to provide additional support for vulnerable people and those with disabilities.
Mike Russell said Scottish Government had warned of looming problems
And Scottish Constitution Secretary Michael Russell blamed the situation on UK ministers over their handling of the country s departure from the EU.
“The problems that we are seeing at various borders now are exactly the sorts of issues that Scottish ministers have been raising since the Brexit referendum, Mr Russell said.
“The customs and border compliance requirements, that have long existed for ‘third countries’, were always going to burden shippers and traders if UK membership of the customs union ended.
“We repeatedly pointed out the need for businesses to have time to prepare, given the complexity of the rules and IT systems involved.