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

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) the number, and (2) the cost, of (a) those directly employed by, and (b) those hired as consultants by, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to work on matters related to Brexit, has increased since the Brexit referendum; and if so, by how much.

In common with other government departments, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is undertaking necessary preparatory work to make sure the department can continue to prepare effectively for EU exit. The Department has received £35.1m for 2017/18 from HMT which covers inter alia the staffing costs of 350 additional civil servants.

The Government will continue to ensure there is an appropriate level of resource to deliver its EU exit work.