Скачать или смотреть Brexit Britain 'takes back control' by hiring 100 staff to do fish certificates

Britain needs another 100 officials to issue health certificates for fish after Brexit, the Government has admitted.  Leave campaigners claimed quitting the EU would allow the UK to strip away Brussels bureaucracy and red tape.  But Environment Secretary George Eustice, a committed Brexiteer, said dozens more health officers were needed to send fish overseas.  Quizzed about arrangements for exporting fish when the Brexit transition ends on December 31, he told MPs: "We've been working with the fishing industry and local authorities to ensure they have the capacity in place to employ the environmental health officers necessary to issue both the catch certificates and the environmental health certificates.  “We have around 1,000 officers now that can issue export health certificates for fish.  “It is the case there are some concerns in Scotland where the Scottish Government potentially has a gap in capacity of 100.  “We're working with them to try to offer our help to ensure this gap can be filled."  The admission comes as UK and EU negotiators are locked in a race against time to strike an agreement over a trade deal.  Tariffs and quotes will be introduced from New Year's Day unless a pact is delivered.   Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "With a constructive attitude and goodwill on all sides we can get there. It's clear what the shape of the deal looks like."   This week's talks have been taking place over video link because an official on EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier's team was diagnosed with coronavirus last week.  The positive Covid-19 test result dashed hopes of in-person discussions in London to finalise a deal.  On Friday, Mr Barnier confirmed that he was due to travel to London for talks after finishing his quarantine period.  He is briefing EU member states ahead of talks with Lord Frost as areas such as fishing rights remain major obstacles to a deal before the Brexit transition period expires at the end of next month.  Coronavirus lockdown rules explained  Mr Barnier tweeted: "In line with Belgian rules, my team and I are no longer in quarantine. Physical negotiations can continue.  "I am briefing Member States & Europarl-EN today. Same significant divergences persist. Travelling to London this evening to continue talks w/ DavidGHFrost + team."  Boris Johnson's spokesman had insisted that the UK would prosper outside the EU - even if a trade agreement with Brussels cannot be agreed in time.  Mr Johnson's spokesman said: "The PM believes that the UK will thrive with or without a deal with the EU.  "But it remains our ambition to reach an FTA (Free Trade Agreement), which is why we continue to negotiate."