Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the (a) impact on and (b) additional cost to the Civil Service of negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

HM Treasury is responsible to Parliament for the control of public resources – this includes overall responsibility for ensuring good value for money and setting departmental budgets. This responsibility remains as we prepare to leave the EU.

However, to ensure those closest to the decisions have the authority to manage public money efficiently and effectively, departments have a certain level of autonomy over expenditure which is not novel, contentious or repercussive.

Therefore, whilst HM Treasury has oversight of policies with significant spending implications, the Treasury will not monitor each individual cost incurred to prepare for EU Exit, including those relating to the Civil Service. This treatment is in line with the spending framework applied to all other expenditure.