Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he plans to publish his Department's preparations for no deal.
Answered by George Hollingbery
We firmly believe it is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to strike a deal. That remains the goal on both sides and we are confident that this will be achieved. But it is the job of a responsible Government to prepare for all scenarios, so we have already carried out very significant ‘no deal’ preparations for the unlikely event that we reach March 2019 without agreeing a deal.
The Government has already published over 100 technical notices so that businesses and citizens have time to prepare in the event of a ‘no deal’ scenario. These are available on gov.uk in a centralised location that is easy for people to access and use.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate he has made of the (a) number of officials to be employed by his Department and (b) his Department's payroll in (i) 2018, (ii) 2019, (iii) 2020, (iv) 2021 and (v) 2022 as a result of the UK leaving EU.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Leaving the European Union is an all-of-government operation. The Department for Exiting the European Union is doing detailed work with departments to prepare for the upcoming negotiations by understanding the risks and opportunities of leaving the EU and coordinating planning.
The Department for International Trade was established to secure UK and global prosperity by promoting and financing international trade and investment and championing free trade.
Given the interactions between EU exit work and the Department’s other priorities, it would not be possible to give a specific figure.
Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether his Department was consulted by the Department for Exiting the European Union on the economic impact assessments conducted for the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is carrying out an ongoing programme of comprehensive analytical work that will inform our negotiating position with the EU, to define our deep and special partnership with the EU and inform our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s domestic policies and frameworks.
The Department for International Trade is working with officials across government, in close coordination with the Department for Exiting the European Union, to ensure the delivery of a holistic programme of analysis across government.