ae Ministry of Housing, ‘Communities & Local Government ‘DOCUMENT NOT FOR PUBLICATION HIMG BREXIT TOP LINES - 26/09/19 These lines should inform your communication with local stakeholders. ‘This document isnot to be shared in its entity or placed on any intranet or iniemet platform other than Resilience Direct. Top.Lines: + The UK wil be leaving the EU on 31 October whatever the circumstances. “+ We would prefer to leave with a deal and we will work in an energetic and determined way to get that better deal, We are very wiling to sit down with the ‘Commission and EU Member States to talk about what needs to be done to achieve that If itis not possible to reach a deal we will have to leave with no deal. The Government is commited to preparing for this outcome. We are better prepared than many think but not as well prepared as we can be. That s now ‘changing and we ate turbocharging preparations. We will make all necessary preparations to do so, All necessary funding will be made availabe. UK proposal documents shared with EU: “+ We have been having detailed discussions with the Commission's Taskforce 50 in recent weeks, We have now shared in written farm a series of confidential technical non: ‘papers which reflect the ideas the UK has been puting forward. + We will table formal writen solutions when we are ready, not according to an artificial deadine, and when the EU is clear that it will engage constructively ‘on them as a replacement forthe backstop. (On Citizens’ Rights: “+ We are making an unequivocal guarantee to the 3.2 million EU nationals now living and working among us. They will have the absolute legal certainy ofthe right to live and remain in the UK and their status wll never be used as @ bargaining chip + We welcome what other EU Member States have done so far, But we Continue to encourage them to do as much as they can to protect UK * nationals living in the EU, and to communicate details oftheir plans as soonae Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government DOCUMENT NOT FOR PUBLICATION as possible. Local GovernmentLRFs * Local government is playing a vial role in preparing the country to be fully ready to leave the EU on 31 October + Todate, MHCLG has allocated £77 million to help local areas prepare for Brexit ‘+The Government isin regular contact with councils about Bresit preparedness. We are working closely with organisations like the Local Government Association, Local Resilience Forums and a natwork of ne Chief Executives who represent ther regions in planning for Brexit, + The EU Exit Local Government Delivery Board, chaired by the Local Government Secretary, provides a mechanism for council leaders to tek to Ministers about domestic Brexit preparations. + Every council was asked to appoint, and subsequently designated, a Erexit Lead Officer to work with central government and plan intensively for Brext. + Alllocal resilience forums have plans in place to prepare for Brexit. We have been working closely with LRF chairs and will continue to do so as we approach the 31 October deadline. Got Ready campaign + We have launched our new public information campaign, ‘Get Ready for Brexit, which will un across television, radio, social media, billboards and ‘other platforms ‘+The campaign sets out what all members ofthe public and business owners need to know to prepare to leave the EU. This isthe largest single ‘communications campaign ever undertaken by the UK Government. The advertising wil be impossible to miss, and will drive audiences to information on GOV.UK. Research shows that only 50% ofthe population think i's kel the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, 42% of small-to-medium sized businesses are unsure of how they ean get ready and just 31% of the British public have Jooked for information on how to prepare for BreitEg Ministry of Housing, ‘Communities & Local Government DOCUMENT NOT FOR PUBLICATION ‘The campaign aims to tackle these issues head on by targeting broad audiences such as UK ctizens intending to travel to Europe, the food and Grink industry and all exporters to the EU, However, over 20 audiences require very specific information - for exarple the equine industry and legal professions - and we will ensure the information they need is clear and easily accessible, + As October 31 approaches we will ramp up activity for key target audiences with road shows, and events - so whether you are a small business ower, hhaulier or EU ciizen residing in the UK - the actions you need to take to prepare willbe clear. +A checker tool is available on GOV.UK so you can identify what you need to {do o Get Ready for Brext quickly. There willbe how to videos and step by step guides, making it easy and simple for audiences to get ready. Some of, the key actions audiences need to take are: ‘To export fo the EU you need a UK EORI numiber- the campaign willtarget ‘smaller firs that wos't have automaticaly enrolled “Haullere and commercial drivers need to obtain the right documents to ensure their cargo is not delayed atthe border. - Vital support packages are availabe for businesses, such as grants and ‘access to training. The campaign will signpost these schemes, Ensuring an orderly Brexit is not only a matter of national importance, but a shared responsibilty. This campaign will encourage the county to come together to Get Ready for the United Kingdom's exit from the EU on 31st October. {Q: Why is the Get Ready campaign continuing despite the Benn Bill? ‘A Impartiality is one ofthe fundamental values ofthe Civil Service and underpins its ablity to effectively serve the Government of the day. The Civil Service Code clearly sets out that al staff should adhere tothe principles of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartalty, The legal position remains that the UK is due to leave the EU on 31 October. As such, this campaign is part of our work as a responsible government to provide important information and guidance to people and businesses on what they reed to do to get ready for Brexit ‘Yellowhammer planning assumptions + In light ofthe motion passed in the House on 09/08/19, we have published the previous iteration of he planning assumptions which largely reflect the work. Carried out under the previous governmenta Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government ‘DOCUMENT NOT FOR PUBLICATION We are currently undertaking a review of the reasonable worst-case scenario planning assumptions for Operation Yellowhammer and will publish the revised version In due course. As you'd expect, the assumptions are under constant review particularly as our preparations advance at pace, ‘These planning assumptions are nota prediction of what is going to heppen, but eflect a responsible Government preparing for reasonable worst-case ‘Asa responsible government we have been planning for, and continue to prepare for, all eventualities and that includes managing any impact of no deal Brexitif they arise, EU Citizens, We are making an unequivocal guarantee tothe 3.2 million EU nationéls now living and working among us. We thank them for their contribution to our society and for their patience. They will have the absolute certainty of the right, to lve and remain in the UK, ‘The unilateral guarantee to EU citizens is already in UK legislation and we have also implemented the citizens’ rights agreements reached with the EFTA, ‘tates. The EU Settlement Scheme has been implemented through Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules made under the Immigration Act 1971 ‘The Government has also laid a number of pieces of secondary legisltion that will come into force on exit day and implement our guarantee to EU citizens in a no deal scenario, including legislation to allow continued access to domestic healthcare, education, and the continued recognition of professional qualifications, ident EEA and Swiss citizens EEA and Swiss citizens living in the UK are our fiends, family and neighbours ‘and we want them to stay. The EU Settlement Scheme makes it easy for resident EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members to obtain UK immigration status. It's free and they only need to complete three key steps - prove their icentiy, show that they live in the UK, and deciare any criminal conviction. Over one milion resident EEA and Swiss ctizens have already boon granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme. They have unti 31 December 2020,ae Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government DOCUMENT NOT FOR PUBLICATION to-apply UK Shared Prosperity Fund + Following our departure from the EU, we will ereate the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), a programme of investment designed to tackle inequaitios between communities by raising productivity + This vil operate across the UK and the Government, respecting the devolution settlements in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK ‘Government wil workin partnership with the devolved administrations to ensure the fund works for the whole of the UK. + We want every part of cur county to benefit rom the opporturities that leaving the EU on 31 October will bring, ‘The Government’ guarantee of European structural funds means places will continue to receive this funding until the end of the current programme under any Brexit scenario, The UKSPF wil invest in the drivers of productivity and economic grovith to ensure people across the UK benefit fram economic prosperity, includng in those parts ofthe country whose economies are furthest Behind, + The Goverment will bring forward plans on the UKSPF and consult widely on the design and priories ofthe fund, So far, 25 engagement events have been ‘conducted across the country with a range of stakeholders in order to hear ‘heir priories for the fund. aga Q: How did the Government decide to allocate Brexit funding for councils? ‘A. Every coun will need to adapt to changes caused by Brexit. We have decided to allocate resources broadly across all council, including distcts, counties and Lnitaies, to support them in preparing for Brext {Q. How much has the Government given to local authorities in total to prepare for Broxit? ‘A MHCLG has s0 far allocated £77 milion to help local areas to prepare for Brexi, Q: Whatis the £77 million allocated to local government Brexit preparation for? ‘A: We want to ensure the country is prepared at every evel and local authorties are Playing a vital role, from communicating wit residents, ensuring they have resilient Plans in place and appropriate staffing levels to deal with any potential impacts. TheCg Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government DOCUMENT NOT FOR PUBLICATION £77 milion allocated by MHCLG to local areas will support them with this important work. : How wil local authorities be affected by Brexit? ‘A: We want to ensure the country is prepared al every level and local authorties are playing a vital role, from communicating with residents, ensuring they have resilient plans in place and appropriate staffing lavels to deal with any potential impacts. : Will there be more funding for local authorities’ Brexit preparations? ‘A: The Government has been clear that departments will assess and, if appropriate, fund potential new requirements of councils as part of Brexit work they are undertaking, low many LRFs/Councils have Brexit plans in placelHas MHCLG seen individual local authorities Brexit plans? ‘A: AlILRF have plans in place to deal withthe potential disruptions - regardiess of the cause. LRFs have a responsibilty to assess the risk of emergencies happening and to plan for these risks. We have been working closely wth LRFs as they develop their plans and will continue to do so as we approach the 31 October deadlina, @: You recently announced that every council should have a ‘Broxit Lesd Officers’. How will each councils’ Broxit officer interact with the Local Resilionce Forums? AA: The Brexit Lead Officers designated by councils will work with local partners and central government to help residents and businesses prepare for Brexit. They will ‘also work with the LRFS to ensure that any no deal Brexit plans take into accsunt relevant local circumstances and recognise impacts on the local community. The Brexit Leader Officer will act as a principal contact point for both regional lead chiet ‘executives and central government, helping to streamline communication channels and reducing duplication, ‘Q: How many councils have appointed a Broxit Lead Officer? ‘A: Every council in England has now appointed a Brexit Lead Officer. Q: Will thore be food shortages? ‘A: We have a highiy-resient food supply chain in the UK and consumers have access to a wide range of high-quality food. This wil not change if we leave without a deal. This is because food supply is diverse and the food industry is already ‘experienced in dealing with scenarios that can affect food supply, from adverse weather damaging crops to transport issues abroad, \We will aivays back Britains great farmers, food producers and manufacturers, and Wwe are boosting our preparations for a no-deal Brexit and making all the necessary funding avaiable fo ensure there is as litle disruption as possible to our naticnal lifeee Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government DOCUMENT NOT FOR PUBLICATION Q: Will there be delays at the border? A If haulers have the correct documentation, disruption atthe border should be limited. Earlier this month the government launched a multi-million pound information ‘campaign across the UK and Europe to ensure businesees and haulers are prepared forthe UK to leave the EU on October 31 ‘The campaign will nclude: a bilboard and media advertising campaign: the establishment of 150 pop-up centres across the ten countries covering the ‘nationaities that process the most UK-bound road freight and the distribution of millions of mut-language information handbcoks and pocket guides, ‘On the Yellowhammer publication : How is this document any different from what we've seen before? ‘A: The Operation Yellowhammer document is based on assumptions drawn up Under the last Government and has not previously been published, We are in the process of reviewing this document and the anaiysis contained within it under revised planning assumptions. A document outining the mitigations the Government has put n place and intends to putin place willbe published in due course. Tne Government will be fully ready for Brexit on 31 October, whatever the circumstances, : When will you publish updated planning assumptions? [A: AS you can see in our letter tothe Chair of the Commons EU Exit Committee, we have committed to publishing the revised assumptions in due course alongsice @ ‘document outining the mitigations the Government has putin place and interds to putin place. We will publish these as soon as possibie. Q: Why has one of the assumptions been redacted? Is it the samo as what was. leaked? A: One assumption has been redacted on the basis ofits commercial sensitivity, We will not be commenting any futher. : What is @ reasonable worst case scenario? Why is this not an impact assessment? ‘A: A reasonable worst case assumption provides a challenging and stretching ‘scenario to aid planning. fone plans for such scenarios then you should be ‘eady {or most plausible manifestations of the risk. Such an approach is good risk management. These scenarios are unlikely to come to pass, Q: How prepared is the UK for ‘No Deal’? How have you been using these assumptions since taking office? ‘A: We are fully preparing for Brext on 31 Oclober, whatever the circumstances. Preparations have improved and continue to change, and we have stepped up ‘No Deal preparation withthe Treasury making all necessary funds available. We willae Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government ‘DOCUMENT NOT FOR PUBLICATION ‘eneure that there is as litle disruption fo national fe as possible, whatever the circumstances after Brexit. With the kind of national effort our people have made before - and will make again - we believe that is possible. Among the lst of things. already done, items include: Reached trade agreements with partners worth around £89 billion of current trade. Signed bilateral voting rights agreements with Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg and approached all other Member States for similar agreements, Laid over 600 Brexit Statutory Instruments. Publishing approximately 750 pieces of communications on No Deal since August 2018, including over 100 technical notices explaniing to businesses and citizens what they need to do to prepare. ‘Secured air services agreements with countries like Canada and the US permiting passenger fights. All agreements required to ensure continulty in civil nuclear trade are in place, including Japan, Canada, US, Australia and the International ‘Atomic Energy Agency. Border Force increased its headcount by around 900 officers between March 2018 and March 2019. During summer priorties will include providing resilience at ports with summer pressures, backtll fr oficers Undergoing training and inland clearance activily Undertaken steps to secure addtional freight capacity, and worked on preparations with our supplies and partners, meaning our plane should ‘ensure the supply of critical goods, including medicines and medical products, remains uninterrupted whatever the circumstances, . Why is itcalled Operation Yellowhammer? [A: HMG regularly uses randomly selactad codenames for programmes and ‘operations.