Brexit: Government’s latest no-deal planning revealed
Michael Gove has revealed his latest set of plans for no-deal Brexit planning, just minutes after Downing Street appeared to admit talks had collapsed.
The latest report, which government had promised to publish regularly in the run-up to Hallowe’en, sets out plans for a “significant increase” in the number of customs agents at the borders and a new import/ export helpline to answer businesses’ questions.
The government is also setting up a specific support unit for medical goods’ suppliers to help to ensure that companies have the necessary customs paperwork in place for border arrangements ahead of Brexit on 31 October.
This comes amid widespread warnings that a no-deal could result in major disruption to the supply of key medicines.
Other measures include the automatic allocation of Economic Operator Registration Indicator (EORI) numbers to 88,000 VAT-registered companies; postponed VAT accounting for both EU and non-EU imports, and a Temporary Tariff Regime (TTR) for all imports, including from the EU, supporting consumers, business supply chains and those sectors in the UK economy that would most benefit from support as we leave, for up to 12 months.
Gove, who as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is in charge of no-deal preparedness, is due to give an update to the House of Commons this morning.
Ahead of that, he said: “This report sets out what will change if we leave without a deal and explains what the Government is doing to get ready. Significant preparations have been underway for the last three years and these have been accelerated under the Prime Minister’s leadership.
“At every point, the Government will be candid about any further challenges ahead as well as clear-eyed about the opportunities. Together, government, businesses and citizens are working so that we will be ready for Brexit on 31 October– and can look forward to the future with certainty and confidence.’