A meeting with a senior UK Government minister on the impact leaving the European Union (EU) will have on agriculture has "made the situation worse", according to Scotland's Brexit minister.

Mike Russell said he questioned Defra Secretary Andrea Leadsom on devolved powers being handed back to Scotland on return from Brussels and "got absolutely nowhere".

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing and Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said the meeting on Thursday on the impact of Brexit to agriculture and the rural economy failed to provide satisfactory answers.

Mr Russell said the lack of answers "bodes very ill for the really serious Brexit issues that lie ahead".

He added: "Roseanna and I took forward the issue of devolved powers.

"That is to take the powers that are held presently in Brussels and their repatriation to the proper destination. We got absolutely nowhere.

"I have made it crystal clear today that it will not be acceptable if those powers transferred to the UK Government rather than to the devolved administrations.

"If the woman responsible for these powers cannot or will not say what is going to happen, I regard that as unacceptable.

"We're in a very difficult position on this because we've done a great deal to try and create compromise, and we're still not getting anywhere with it."

He added: "There was no movement today. There was no information today ... I think Andrea Leadsom made the situation worse today rather than better.

"The Article 50 letter is now crucial. The Article 50 letter must refer to Scottish concerns and there must be answers.

"The time for warm words has well and truly passed. We've had six months of them and there has to be some action now."

Mr Ewing said he asked questions on the continuation of agricultural subsidies and EU funding, but got no "satisfactory" answers and warned the future of the rural economy is at stake.

He said: "These questions have to be answered some time and the UK Government is starting to look rather foolish and negligent by failing to come up with the answers.

"We're talking about shrinking the rural economy.

"If we can't resolve these questions and maintain the financial support, then there will be substantial shrinkage of the rural economy.

"Firstly, we will lose people who work there, secondly we face tariffs, thirdly we face the loss of possible financial support and fourthly we face the loss of the EU market which takes about 40% of our food.

"The combination of all of these threats, each of them being significant, would inevitably lead to very serious economic consequences for rural Scotland."

Ms Cunningham accused UK Government ministers of "evasion and deflection" when asked about EU immigration and its importance to Scotland's rural economy.

Ms Leadsom said:‪‪‪ "We are working with all devolved administrations as we make preparations to leave the EU. Today's meeting was part of this ongoing dialogue.‪‪‪

"Discussions were constructive and work goes on to secure the very best deal that delivers for all parts of the UK."‪