Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of St Helens Council on preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Local Government plays a vital role in preparing the country to be fully ready for the UK to exit the EU on 31 October 2019.

The Department has stepped up their preparedness significantly and speaks regularly to councils and partners, including through the Local Government Brexit Delivery Board and a network of nine regional chief executives. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government leads this engagement.

Every council has designated a Brexit Lead Officer to work with central Government to intensify their local preparations and, in total, the Department has made £77 million available to help local areas get ready for the UK to exit the EU.

Whilst the Department has not had any meetings with St Helens Council regarding preparations for the UK exiting the EU, the Department has issued advice to local authorities’ children’s services on how to prepare for the UK to exit the EU. This guidance is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-local-authority-childrens-services-in-england.