Campaigners challenge Tories over £800m in EU funding for Scotland
A pro-European Union campaign group is seeking guarantees from the Conservative Party on the future of around £800 million of EU funding for Scotland.
A pro-European Union campaign group is seeking guarantees from the Conservative Party on the future of around £800 million of EU funding for Scotland.
The European Movement in Scotland (EMiS) campaign has raised concerns following the launch of the Conservative General Election manifesto.
It said the manifesto has failed to confirm funds lost to Scotland from leaving the EU will be fully replaced by a future Conservative government.
Scotland has been allocated £787 million in EU funding over the seven-year funding period to 2020, equivalent to £110 million a year in structural funds to offset economic deficiencies
The Scottish Government currently manages these funds from the European Commission and the previous funding round was used for projects such as upgrading roads in the Western Isles, transport improvements for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and constructing a windfarm in South Uist.
The Conservative manifesto states that it “will use the structural fund money that comes back to the UK following Brexit to create a United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund, specifically designed to reduce inequalities between communities across our four nations”.
Alex Orr, policy adviser for EMiS said: “With Brexit there are massive implications for Scotland and there is no guarantee, further reinforced by the Conservative manifesto, that the lost funds will be replaced in Scotland.
“This funding which has benefited key areas, such as the Highlands and Islands and south-west Scotland, may not continue at the sort of levels currently enjoyed, with obvious implications for those in these communities.
“Following Brexit Scotland will be at the whim of Westminster as to how any such future funding is allocated.
“What we require are guarantees that this vital funding will be replaced and that it is additional to, not replacing, the current Scottish Government budget.”