The Government’s contingency planning for Brexit was initiated well in advance of the UK referendum in June 2016 and has intensified in recent months.
To this end, co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. These include meetings of various groups on a weekly and fortnightly basis as well as a range of ongoing meetings with individual Departments across the range of sectors.
In my own Department, I have multiple engagements with the Secretary General every week to discuss Government business and the main business priorities of the Department, which would include regular discussions on Brexit.
In addition, a working group of senior officials within the Department is in place to coordinate the Department’s Brexit planning. Brexit is a standing agenda item at the monthly Ministerial Management Board meetings and at weekly meetings of the Department's Management Board.
Preparation and planning is ongoing across Government to address a range of Brexit scenarios, including a ‘no deal’ scenario, and Departments and agencies continue to develop and implement, as appropriate, Brexit preparedness and contingency planning in their areas of responsibility.