Equipping the Government for Brexit

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom issued a report called 'Equipping the Government for Brexit' on the 20 July 2016.

The Committee recommended that the UK Government must commit to a substantial increase in funding and personnel for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as the department’s role evolved to meet the challenges and opportunities in leaving the EU.

The Committee says the previous Government's negligence in failing to conduct contingency planning for Brexit has exacerbated post-referendum uncertainty both within the UK and amongst key international partners, and made the task now facing the new Government substantially more difficult.

For this reason, the Committee urges the new Prime Minister to strengthen the FCO. As FCO officials move to other Whitehall departments to assist with the EU exit process, the Prime Minister should ensure the FCO has the resources to fill any gaps in capacity.

• Primary Source

United Kingdom: Parliament: Parliamentary Business: Committees: News, 20.07.16: Starved FCO urgently needs resources for Brexit challenge and opportunities http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/foreign-affairs-committee/news-parliament-2015/brexit-report-published-16-17/

United Kingdom: Department for Exiting the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/department-for-exiting-the-european-union/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: The EU Referendum, 23 June 2016. The United Kingdom and the European Union. The results http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-referendum-23-june-2016-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union-the-results/

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