The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union led an
update to Cabinet on the domestic preparations the Government is
making for Brexit.
The Cabinet heard that the Government's first priority
remains to agree a deep and special partnership that is good for
the UK and good for the EU, and that is what we are working
towards.
Alongside the negotiations in Brussels, it is crucial that we are
putting our own domestic preparations in place so that we are
ready at the point that we leave the EU.
Cabinet heard many of these will be needed even in our preferred
scenario of a bold and ambitious deal – for example, implementing
either of our proposed customs arrangements will require
investment in new systems and customs officers by HMRC.
The preparatory work has seen a significant acceleration in
recent months. Departments are preparing detailed delivery plans
for each of the c.300 programmes under way across government and
these are monitored closely by DEXEU and the Cabinet
Office.
Each of these plans prepares the country for the range of
negotiated outcomes and a 'no deal' scenario for a policy area
affected by the UK leaving the EU. The plans set out detailed
delivery timelines including, for example, to recruit and train
new staff; to design and procure IT systems; and to deliver the
necessary legislative and regulatory changes."
The Secretary of State thanked ministerial colleagues who sit on
the Inter Ministerial Group, which has met regularly since the
summer, for their work ensuring these plans are constantly
evolving and improving, in order to ensure maximum day-one
readiness for Brexit.
In addition to the work of central Government it was noted that
the successful implementation of Brexit will require work on the
part of both the Devolved Administrations and businesses across
the country. The coming months will see a further intensification
of Government's engagement with both businesses and the DAs.
The Secretary of State also noted that this was a huge
cross-government effort. Nearly 3,000 new posts have now been
created in support of EU Exit across Government - including in
specialist functions. For example, 300 additional lawyers have
been recruited to the Government Legal Department in the last
year.
The Government expects the number of posts to continue to grow
next year as we move into the next phase of delivery. HMRC have
confirmed that they will recruit an additional 3 – 5,000
additional staff next year.
The Chancellor and Chief Secretary to the Treasury then provided
an update on the more than half a billion pounds that HMT has
already committed for Brexit preparations, with over £250m
additional funding in 2017/18.
They confirmed that the additional funding agreed in 17/18
includes: preparations for implementing changes at the border;
preparing for future new trade agreements; and converting
existing EU law into domestic law on Exit. The Chancellor and
Chief Secretary advised that HMT stood ready to work with
Departments to take forward necessary plans for 2018/19.
Finally, there was then an update on the legislation associated
with Brexit from the Leader of the House of Commons.
The Prime Minister thanked the Secretary of State for Exiting the
EU and other Cabinet Ministers for their ongoing hard work.
She announced that, to support the intensification of our
domestic preparations, a new EU Exit and Trade sub-Committee is
being created. Chaired by the First Secretary, it will focus on
Domestic Preparedness, Legislation, and Devolution.
The PM added that, as we build towards the next phase of the
negotiations in Brussels, she also intend to extend the existing
EU Exit and Trade (Negotiations) sub-Committee to become the EU
Exit and Trade (Strategy and Negotiations) sub-Committee. It will
consider strategic questions relating to the UK’s future
partnership with the EU and our negotiating mandate.
The full EUXT committee will continue, as well as the
sub-committee on international trade and the Inter Ministerial
Group on EU exit.
Full details of the changes will be published to Parliament in a
WMS later today.
