Welcome to the Brexit Bulletin – providing an update on recent developments relevant to councils.
No-Deal Readiness Report
The No-Deal Readiness Report has been issued today with the following press release, which you can also find here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brexit-readiness-report-published
Preparations to ensure that the UK is ready for Brexit on 31 October have been set out in a paper published today by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove.
The Government has put forward serious and reasonable proposals to the EU and continues to work at pace to secure a deal, but this will require movement from the EU.
If we leave without a deal, the Brexit readiness report includes details of the government’s work to make sure that citizens and businesses are ready for Brexit on 31 October.
The report also sets out the preparation underway to ensure that goods continue to flow smoothly across the UK and EU border after Brexit, with measures in place and information given to traders, businesses and hauliers on what they need to do to prepare before 31 October.
You can find the report here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/no-deal-readiness-report
Parliamentary Updates
- The Prime Minister intends to request that the current session of Parliament be prorogued from the evening of Tuesday 8 October, with a Queen’s Speech on Monday 14 October. You can find the press release about this here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pms-intention-to-request-the-current-session-of-parliament-be-prorogued
- The UK Government’s proposal to the EU for a new Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, presented on 2 October 2019, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-proposals-for-a-new-protocol-on-irelandnorthern-ireland
Department for Education Guidance
To prepare for leaving the EU, you may wish to signpost headteachers in your council to the Department for Education’s guidance for schools on how to prepare for Brexit, which was published earlier this year. This will help ensure they are aware of any actions they may need to take. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-schools-in-england/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-schools-in-england
The Department has also published guidance for council children’s services in England on preparing for Brexit, which you may also wish to share with the relevant people in your organisation. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-local-authority-childrens-services-in-england
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.
Business Events
BEIS Business Readiness Events
During 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
Guidance and Information
- The Government has today (8 October) published an update to the UK’s temporary tariff regime if we leave the EU without a deal. Details: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/temporary-tariff-regime-updated
- The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has published several guides for preparing for a no deal Brexit for DCMS sectors. Details: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/brexit-guidance-for-dcms-sectors
- MHCLG has published guidance for UK nationals living abroad who will be returning to the UK permanently. Details: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/returning-to-the-uk
- HM Revenue & Customs has updated guidance on importing goods using transitional simplified procedures in a no-deal Brexit. Details: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transitional-simplified-procedures
- HM Revenue & Customs has updated their information videos for traders in a no-deal Brexit. Details: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-and-support-for-traders-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-with-no-deal
- HM Revenue & Customs has updated their impact assessment for the movement of goods if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Details: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-impact-assessment-for-the-movement-of-goods-if-the-uk-leaves-the-eu-without-a-deal
- The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and UK Research and Innovation has updated guidance on Horizon 2020 funding after Brexit. Details: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/horizon-2020-funding-after-brexit
- The Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration has updated EU Settlement Scheme caseworker guidance. Details: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-caseworker-guidance
- The way you import to and export from the EU will change after Brexit. Newly published flowcharts explain the new processes for certain goods and products. Details: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/flowcharts-for-import-and-export-processes-after-brexit