PLANNING for a no-deal Brexit intensifies this week with daily reports to the ­Scottish Government on preparations.

Fears have existed that if the UK Government doesn’t get a deal approved by parliament and no extension is granted by the European Union there could be a shortage of essential supplies.

Police have preparations for any potential civil unrest.

However, council officials have sought to reassure people there will be enough stocks and efficient contingency planning to ensure no serious disruption will ensue.

In the immediate days following a potential no-deal Brexit, it needs to be ensured there is enough food for school meals, and for care of the elderly.

Fuel supplies must be maintained to ensure the fleet of vehicles for home care visits, bin collections and essential services are delivered.

And medical supplies of drugs and equipment need to be available for care services.

Glasgow City Council has been carrying out planning across all departments to ensure there is enough food, fuel and medicines for essential services in the event that the UK leaves the EU with no deal in place.

Delays at ports, particularly Dover, are expected and the supply of some essential goods that come for the rest of the EU could be disrupted.

Kevin Rush, director of regional economic growth, has been overseeing Brexit planning.

He said: “It is difficult to plan for something that we don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Suppliers, particularly of medicine have been asked by the UK and Scottish governments to ensure they have around six weeks of supplies to see the country through any period of delays.

Locally the council is not increasing its own stocks.

Mr Rush said: “There’s been nothing to indicate we need to stockpile.

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“We are thinking about every eventuality. If there are shortages, we will prioritise but we are not anticipating it. We do not anticipate anyone going without.”

The council has in place ongoing contingency plans to allow it to deal with any sudden shortages that could occur or disruption due to unforeseen circumstances like weather or industrial action, for example.

Mr Rush said the council had confidence in those procedures and in the supply chain.

He said: “We are confident we have got the bulk of supplies.”

With just over a week until Brexit is due, planning efforts nationally are being stepped up to identify any potential problems.

He added: “We now start daily reports into government.

“Fuel and food are the main items and medical supplies. We have made provision for storage if required.”

There has been concerns raised by some councils about the cost of school meals having to rise or nutritional standards having to be lowered if there are availability issues.

The local authority umbrella organisation Cosla has also said it expects supplies to be uninterrupted.

Cosal said in a statement: “The UK Government considers arrangements to be sufficiently robust to ensure that supplies will continue. Their advice is that there may be reduced choice, but there will be enough food.

“COSLA officials liaise with relevant organisations, such as Scotland Excel and Transport Scotland, to ensure the latest position is understood and any concerns councils have are flagged up.”

The council has said that there is some uncertainty over some elements of Brexit.

It has been noted there could be an increase in prices if there is a change in tariffs and there could be issues with procurement of goods in the future.

Other longer term issues have been the subject of planning.

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Lobinoking further forward, the council is preparing for the economic shock and long term implications that a no-deal Brexit could have on the city.

Mr Rush said that as well as the immediate impact on services there has been planning for 1000 days after.

He said: “It is estimated the city’s economy will be affected and be £2.35billion worse off over four years if there is a no-deal Brexit.”

Economic experts have likened the impact to that of the financial crash of 2008 and the recession that followed.

For Glasgow, the estimates are that the city could lose up to 24,000 jobs over two years and miss out on 14,000 new jobs.

Mr Rush said: “That is where we need to mitigate the worst aspects of a no-deal Brexit.”

Many of the public sector and wider workforce are from the other EU countries. However, with the guarantee that EU citizens currently residing here can stay and be eligible to work the council is not overly concerned about a flight of worker back to the EU.

However making sure the do actually stay is a focus of attention.

Mr Rush added: “A lot of our EU nationals fill skilled jobs. We need to make sure we retain those people.”

He also said there will be opportunities.

He added: “Whatever your view of Brexit, there is potential to explore new markets and a chance for companies to increase exports.”