Brexit department demands more cash from Philip Hammond
Officials in the department overseeing Brexit are demanding a funding boost from Philip Hammond to help them deal with the process of leaving the EU.
Philip Hammond addressing MPsA senior figure in the department told the Sunday Telegraph the Chancellor would need to provide hundreds more staff.
“We need more officials. The Department is growing but we have got a big task starting in just a couple of weeks’ time," the source said.
“We certainly need a couple of hundred more. The stuff we are doing is unbelievably technical.”
Another source in Liam Fox's Department for International Trade echoed that sentiment.
“The expectation is that Britain will be delivering a number of free trade agreements and progress in other trade areas. It will need people and expertise to deliver those," they said.
“We do need to make sure it is properly financed. We don’t want Britain's trading future, such an important part of this Government, to be impacted because we don’t have the capabilities to delivmeer.”
Although the Brexit department has been exempted from cuts, both the Foreign Office and International Trade department are being forced to find 6% spending cuts.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke insisted the departments already had adequate resources.
“We are confident that departments have the resources needed to ensure we get the best deal for Britain as we leave the EU, and have the right skills to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead," he said.
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