Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent meetings (a) Ministers and (b) Officials in her Department have had with businesses in the (i) automotive (ii) pharmaceutical (iii) retail and food sector businesses about the impact of leaving the EU without a deal on their businesses; and if she will make a statement.

Ministers and officials have regular engagement with a large number of businesses across all sectors, including from the automotive, pharmaceutical and retail and food sectors, to ensure they are prepared for the UK leaving the EU on the 31st October.

Ministers have hosted a regular series of roundtables both in Westminster and around the UK in recent months, where they have had the chance to speak to and hear directly from a wide range of businesses both large and small.

In order to help business prepare for exiting the EU on 31 October, the Government have come together to deliver a new series of 'One HMG' events, starting from Monday 16 September to 18 October. These roadshows will bring together expertise from across departments including BEIS, the Home Office, HMRC, DIT, DEFRA and DCMS, and combine interactive support and in-depth advice sessions to help business from all sectors and of all sizes get ready for Brexit. ​In addition to this, on 11^th September, officials held an EU Exit Readiness forum with over 250 companies participating many of which were retailers.

A £15m Business Readiness Fund for business organisations and trade associations will support businesses in preparing for a ‘No Deal’ Brexit ahead of 31 October 2019.