A FUNDING fallout between Holyrood and London has raised doubts over the planned construction of new post-Brexit border controls at Cairnryan.
The UK is due to start implementing checks on goods coming into Britain from the Republic and wider EU via Northern Ireland later this year.
That’s because food products being exported to GB from the EU will require certification from the end of October.
The Scottish government announced plans to build a new border control post (BCP) at Cairnryan in 2021, ahead of the planned start of physical checks at the end of January 2024.
But a spokesperson for the Scottish government told the BBC: “Scottish ministers have asked that the full value of border infrastructure be met by the UK government, in line with promises made during the Brexit campaign.
“We have had no choice but to pause construction of the BCP until these uncertainties are resolved.”
That has created uncertainty over when the physical checks will begin.
The Windsor Framework means the new checks and controls will not apply to EU goods directly entering Northern Ireland.
Northern Irish goods are also due to retain “unfettered access” to the GB market.
It remains unclear how officials in Cairnryan will determine between goods originating in the Republic and the north.
A spokesperson for the Scottish government told the BBC that the UK government must “urgently clarify the policy on Northern Ireland to Great Britain trade”.
The statement said: “This will be crucial to understanding the impact on businesses and devolved responsibilities.”
In response, a UK government spokesperson said: “We are committed to creating a seamless, digital border that will improve security and biosecurity while reducing friction for businesses.
“Whilst responsibility for border control posts is a devolved matter, we are working closely with the Scottish government on the requirements for goods arriving in Cairnryan.”
