The impact of Brexit on Aberdeen’s economy will not be as bad as predicted, according to junior Brexit minister Robin Walker.
Mr Walker was responding to a bombshell report from the Centre for Cities, whose analysis showed the Granite City’s economy would take the hardest hit in the UK from leaving the EU.
The Conservative will visit Aberdeen today to meet oil and gas bosses as well as fishermen and listen to their views on negotiations with the EU.
He said: “The key thing we need to look at is how we support the parts of the economy such as Aberdeen and that is clearly something the UK Government takes very seriously.
“I’m confident we will be able to make sure those predictions on potential impacts to Aberdeen are mitigated.
“As part of the industry strategy we want to make sure we can support all sectors and listen to what they need.”
Mr Walker will meet representatives at the Oil and Gas Authority headquarters in the morning before calling in at the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation headquarters.
The minister said further support could be forthcoming, although he avoided giving the Press and Journal any guarantee.
He said: “We recognise some of the specific challenges Aberdeen has faced, particularly in the oil and gas industry.
“We want to support the industry and there has been a £2billion package to try and do that, as well as a strong case being made for the city with the £250million city deal.
“Some of this is about what deal we can strike to make sure the Aberdeen economy is best supported by having good market access.
“A lot is also about what we can do to support the industry. It’s really important we look at all of this.”
The economic impact on Aberdeen is expected to be twice as bad with a hard Brexit, which would mean leaving the EU without a free trade deal.
The Scottish Government has continued to push for a softer Brexit deal, maintaining single market access and allowing more immigration.
But, whilst Mr Walker said he would listen to Scottish concerns, a common UK framework was his priority.
He said: “The Scottish Government has been very clear on its aspirations of achieving the best possible market access.
“In order to have proper access we need to have some common UK framework.
“What we want to do is have a grown-up discussion to understand that, through this process, more powers are likely to come to each of the devolved administrations.”