Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the oral contribution of the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union to the House of Lords European Union Committee on 31 October, how many civil servants his Department (a) has recruited and (b) expects to recruit to work on leaving the EU.

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.

Staff within the Global and Public Health Directorate of this Department lead on providing advice to Ministers on EU Exit and exit-related issues.

Members of staff across the Department also provide advice and analysis on EU Exit issues as required.

Given the interactions between EU exit work and the Department’s other priorities, it would not be possible to give an accurate figure.