News and Views

Welcome to the Brexit Bulletin – providing an update on recent developments relevant to councils.

Announcements

• MHCLG has published a summary of the last two Brexit Local Government Delivery Board meetings. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brexit-local-government-delivery-board-september-2019-update
• The Department for Work and Pensions is writing to pensioners living in the EU to confirm that their UK State Pension will continue to be increased every year until March 2023 if we leave the EU in a no-deal scenario, as announced on 1 September. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brexit-and-pensions-uprating
• HRMC has announced that it will provide a further £10 million in grants for customs agents and intermediaries to build capacity in managing customs declarations. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hmrc-adds-a-further-10-million-to-boost-customs-expertisee

Events

Home Office EUSS Teleconferences

The Home Office is running a series of teleconferences for front line staff who support Looked After Children and care leavers to provide further information about the EU Settlement Scheme. They will take place on the following dates:

• 22 October 2019 – 1200-1300
• 19 November 2019 – 1200-1300
• 18 December 2019 – 1200-1300
• 21 January 2020 – 1200-1300
• 18 February 2020 – 1200-1300
• 24 March 2020 – 1200-1300

Please email Feedback-EUSSsupportmodel@homeoffice.gov.uk to book a place.

EUSS London Network Event

The Home Office is hosting a London Partners EU Settlement Scheme networking event in London on 9 October. This will bring together councils in London with members of the grant funded network and other interested parties to highlight successes and best practice to date, as well as explore how partners might collaborate on future activity.

Invites were sent to London Brexit Lead Officers and the Home Office has asked for responses by Friday 4th October. Please note that further EUSS partner events with local authorities are being planned over the coming months.

Business Events

BEIS Business Readiness Events

During September and October, the Government will be holding a series of ‘Get ready for Brexit’ business readiness events across the country to give businesses help and advice on how to prepare for Brexit.

These free events will be visiting all parts of the country, allowing businesses to meet government advisers to discuss what they need to do to prepare for Brexit, understand what’s changing in their industry, and for information on specific rules and regulations.

Please find further information here: https://registration.livegroup.co.uk/brexitbusinessreadinessevents/?utm_campaign=brexit-business-readiness-2019

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have extended the application deadline for their Brexit business readiness fund. Details: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brexit-readiness-fund-extended-to-help-businesses-to-prepare

Brexit Preparedness Workshops

The Department for International Trade are running a series of events to help exporters get ready for Brexit.

Please find further information here: https://www.events.great.gov.uk/ehome/index.php?eventid=200194661&

‘Get ready for Brexit’ Webinars

HMRC are running webinars that will provide an overview of what UK businesses need to do to keep importing and exporting goods between the UK and EU.

Please find further information here:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/6556129852233668609?source=Sep-HMRC-Comms-GOV

Communications products

• The second phase of the Public Information Campaign was launched last week. This phase focuses on what certain audiences need to do to get ready for Brexit.
• New digital products have been created to help local communication teams with their messaging and can be downloaded here (valid for seven days from today): https://we.tl/t-kRNMFrKBv4

Guidance and Information

• Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) have produced guidance for councils on Brexit Secondary Legislation which can be found on LLG’s website here: https://www.lawyersinlocalgovernment.org.uk/news_articles/llg-publishes-guidance-on-eu-exit-statutory-instruments-with-local-government-impact
• MHCLG has set out what those working in the construction products industry need to do to prepare for Brexit in blogs for both the Construction Products Association and the Federation Master Builders. Details: https://www.constructionproducts.org.uk/news-media-events/blog/2019/october/construction-product-regulations-post-brexit/ and https://www.fmb.org.uk/join-the-fmb/builders-blog/archive/what-builders-need-to-know-about-construction-products-regulations-post-brexit/
• The Department for Work and Pensions has updated its guidance on the rights of EU citizens to claim UK benefits if they arrive in the UK after Brexit. Details: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-citizens-in-the-uk-benefits-and-pensions-in-a-no-deal-scenario
• Detailed guides for businesses on specific product safety and metrology regulations in a no-deal Brexit have been published. Details: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-product-safety-and-metrology-in-a-no-deal-brexit
• The Cabinet Office has provided updated information for businesses on the outcome for public procurement policy in a no-deal Brexit scenario. Details: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-sector-procurement-after-a-no-deal-brexit
• New e-learning on imported food sampling is available. This is aimed at environmental health staff, port health officers and trading standards officers. It can be found here: https://samplingtraining.food.gov.uk/#home. This complements existing e-learning on imported food controls: https://importedfoodtraining.food.gov.uk/#home
• Guidance for UK businesses on using simplified customs procedures in a no-deal Brexit has been updated to include information about moving goods with an ATA Carnet through the ports of Holyhead and Dover and the Eurotunnel has been added. Details: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/customs-procedures-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-without-a-deal
• DEFRA have updated their list for import and export processes after Brexit, adding a flowchart for direct landings of UK caught marine fish into EU ports after Brexit. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/flowcharts-for-import-and-export-processes-after-brexit
• A licensing authority, the Single Issuing Authority (SIA), has been set up to ensure UK fishermen have the correct licences to fish legally in line with any negotiated agreements, in non-UK waters and is encouraging fishermen to register for an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukfas-prepare-licensing-for-commercial-fishing-in-non-uk-waters-after-brexit