NHS and water board under threat from single market plans
Controversial plans toc reate a UK “single market” after Brexit could undermine public services like the NHS and Scottish Water, Scotland’ s constitution secretary Michael Russell has said.
And he pledged that Scottish Government will publish a rebuttal of the plans which have been branded an attack on devolution. The bill aims to guarantee companies can trade unhindered in every part of the UK and replaces the provisions of the EU single market when the Brexit transition period ceases next year. Brexit will see Holyrood and the other devolved nations handed new controls over areas such as animal welfare, food regulations and the environment.
But there are fears that this may lead to new barriers to trade between different parts of the UK.
But Mr Russell told MSPS yesterday there is“no threat to such trade”.
He added: “In order to deliver bad trade deals which is all they can expect from their weakened state, they want private health companies to have a guaranteed right to trade unhindered in Scotland, weakening and undermining the Scottish NHS. They want private water compa - nies to be given a guarantee to trade unhindered in Scotland undermining standards and raising prices. They want, once their hooks are in to be able to alter anything we do with just a flourish of a UK minister’s pen.”
The claims have been rejected by the UK government which insists Holyrood will gain a tranche of new powers after Brexit.