| Author (Corporate) | United Kingdom, National Audit Office |
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| Publisher | GOV.UK |
| Series Title | Policy Paper |
| Series Details | January 2018 |
| Publication Date | January 2018 |
| Content Type | Report |
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The United Kingdom's National Audit Office published in January 2018 a briefing on how the Department for International Trade (DIT) was preparing for the EU Exit and the steps it had made, since its creation in 2016, to establish the best trading framework for the UK to maximise trade and investment after the UK left. The briefing set out the following: + The scale of DIT’s task. Of the 313 EU exit work streams identified by DExEU, DIT was accountable for eight. This included some complex challenges, new legislation and scenario-based planning, namely preparing for and determining changes to the EU trade agreements to ensure they continued to function after the UK left the EU. + How DIT had set about its task. The department had grown rapidly since its creation in 2016, supported by additional funding to strengthen its trade policy capabilities. The department was planning its legislation programme and was beginning to develop its skills requirements. +How DIT was working with others, including the cross government Trade Policy Steering Board on EU Exit Trade policy and in developing a trade negotiating capability across government. Note: The NAO had earlier issued further related Briefings in November-December 2017: + Implementing the UK’s Exit from the European Union: The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, November 2017 + Implementing the UK’s exit from the European Union. The Department for Exiting the European Union and the centre of government, November 2017 + Implementing the UK’s exit from the European Union: Infrastructure and Projects Authority, November 2017 + Implementing the UK’s Exit from the European Union: The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, December 2017. + Implementing the UK’s Exit from the European Union – People and skills: The role of the centre of government, December 2017 Background The National Audit Office in the United Kingdom scrutinises public spending for the UK Parliament and is independent of government. The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Sir Amyas Morse KCB, is an Officer of the House of Commons and leads the NAO, which employs some 785 people. The C&AG certifies the accounts of all government departments and many other public sector bodies. He has statutory authority to examine and report to Parliament on whether departments and the bodies they fund have used their resources efficiently, effectively, and with economy. Its studies evaluate the value for money of public spending, nationally and locally. Its recommendations and reports on good practice help government improve public services. Its work led to audited savings of £734 million in 2016. In July 2017 the Comptroller and Auditor General of the National Audit Office, Amyas Morse had given an interview to selected journalists, in which he expressed concern that the United Kingdom government had failed to take a unified approach to talks with the EU. He suggested that the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU), the Treasury and the cabinet office had so far failed to take an 'energetic' lead, leaving other departments to set their own priorities. Morse said he had suggested to relevant ministers and officials that he would like to see a cross-departmental plan on Brexit implementation. This had not yet been forthcoming. |
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| Source Link | https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Implementing-the-UKs-exit-from-the-European-Union.pdf |
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| Subject Categories | Trade |
| Countries / Regions | United Kingdom |
