[Withdrawn] Department for Exiting the European Union single departmental plan - May 2018
Updated 27 June 2019
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Our single departmental plan sets out our objectives and how we will achieve them.
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
Permanent Secretary
The Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) was established on 14 July 2016, after the Referendum on 23 June 2016.
DExEU works to achieve a successful outcome in the negotiations to leave the European Union (EU) and in establishing the future relationship between the United Kingdom (UK) and the EU, and in domestic preparations to ensure the United Kingdom seizes the opportunities and meets the challenges of EU exit.
The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union is supported by staff in Whitehall and by the UK Permanent Representation to the EU (UKRep) in Brussels.
Our objectives
We will:
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Secure the best possible deal on the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU; and build a deep and comprehensive future partnership between the UK and the EU
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Deliver and legislate for the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU
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Inform, engage and mobilise interested parties to help shape and secure a successful exit from the EU
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Attract, develop and retain great people and organise ourselves flexibly to deliver our objectives efficiently and effectively
1. Secure the best possible deal on the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU; and build a deep and comprehensive future partnership between the UK and the EU
Lead minister
The Rt Hon David Davis MP, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
Lead officials
Philip Rycroft, Head of UK Governance Group and Permanent Secretary
Sir Tim Barrow, KCMG LVO MBE, UK Permanent Representative to the EU
Sarah Healey, Director General
Susannah Storey, Director General
Alex Ellis, Director General
Simon Case, Director General
1.1 Finalise Article 50 negotiations with the EU
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Deliver the Government’s objectives for the negotiations and make progress to conclude the remaining areas of the Withdrawal Agreement alongside the development of the framework for the future partnership |
| Publish papers to support the UK’s position in the negotiations |
| Support strategic planning on the sequencing, phasing and delivery of the negotiations |
| Coordinate the UK delegation for each negotiating round, to support detailed, technical discussions with the EU |
1.2 Deliver an implementation period to allow all involved time to adjust, and to provide certainty
| How we will achieve this |
| Confirm a strictly time-limited implementation period, during which the UK and EU would continue to have access to one another’s markets on current terms, the UK would take part in existing security measures, and the UK will negotiate, sign and ratify trade deals with new partners around the world |
1.3 Build a Future Partnership that protects our shared interests and values
| How we will achieve this |
| Negotiate a unique and ambitious economic partnership that allows for the freest possible trade in goods and services, taking advantage of our unique starting position of sharing the same rules and regulations |
| Negotiate a bold new strategic security partnership with the EU, delivering the vision set out in the Framework for the UK-Security Partnership to preserve UK and European security, maintaining and strengthening our ability to meet ever-evolving threats |
| Agree cross-cutting provisions to underpin the partnership on the exchange of data, information and governance |
| Lead and coordinate a cross-government programme of qualitative and quantitative analysis as we prepare for exit and to inform the UK’s negotiating position |
| Ensure that the UK can engage independently with the rest of the world and take advantage of the opportunities offered by leaving the EU |
Our performance
2. Deliver and legislate for the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU
Lead minister
All ministers
Lead officials
Philip Rycroft, Head of UK Governance Group and Permanent Secretary
Sir Tim Barrow, KCMG LVO MBE, UK Permanent Representative to the EU
Sarah Healey, Director General
Susannah Storey, Director General
Alex Ellis, Director General
Simon Case, Director General
2.1 Negotiate as one United Kingdom taking due account of the specific interests of every nation and region of the UK, and of the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Ensure that the Devolved Administrations are fully engaged in the UK’s preparations to leave the EU, including through the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations |
| Ensure that the Crown Dependencies, Gibraltar and the other Overseas Territories are fully engaged in the UK’s preparations to leave the EU, including through Joint Ministerial Councils and Chief Ministers’ Meetings on EU Negotiations |
| Work closely with local government and elected mayors throughout the negotiations, to ensure the interests of every region are taken into account |
2.2 Coordinate a comprehensive legislative programme on EU exit that will provide certainty for businesses, workers and consumers
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Develop and deliver the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill and the Withdrawal Agreement & Implementation Bill to help implement the UK’s exit from the EU |
| Oversee all EU Exit-related primary and secondary legislation across government, working closely with the Cabinet Office |
| Work with the Devolved Administrations, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories to support development of essential legislation needed for EU exit in all parts of the UK and its territories |
| Work with Parliament and The National Archives to help businesses, workers and consumers access legislation relevant to EU exit |
2.3 Scrutinise policy and delivery planning
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Lead work to develop an integrated picture of the policy changes required across Government to ensure as smooth as possible an exit in a range of scenarios – both negotiated and contingency |
| Maintain a single picture of workstreams, policy proposals and delivery implications across government to inform policy development in each scenario – both negotiated and contingency |
| Scrutinise domestic policy solutions and delivery plans that departments develop, to ensure coherence between plans and with negotiating assumptions |
| Identify delivery implications of the Government’s negotiating strategy |
2.4 Support, monitor and catalyse implementation
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Monitor and support departmental progress toward delivering each exit plan (in each scenario – both negotiated and contingency) and scrutinise priority programmes |
| Recommend cross-cutting resolutions to unblock common or critical issues |
2.5 Develop policy positions on cross-government policy priorities
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Analyse proposals and ensure cross-government consensus can be secured |
| Convene cross-government taskforces and working groups to ensure government develops a single, coherent policy or approach, when appropriate |
2.6 Lead cross-government work on international agreements
| How we will achieve this |
| Lead cross-government work to assess the international agreements that will need action as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU |
| Seek continuity and avoid unintended changes with third countries and international organisations |
| Lead engagement with a number of countries on international agreements |
Our performance
You can read documents, press releases and reports on how the Government is preparing to leave the EU
3. Inform, engage and mobilise interested parties to help shape and secure a successful exit from the EU
Lead minister
All ministers
Lead officials
Philip Rycroft, Head of UK Governance Group and Permanent Secretary
Sir Tim Barrow, KCMG LVO MBE, UK Permanent Representative to the EU
Sarah Healey, Director General
Susannah Storey, Director General
Alex Ellis, Director General
Simon Case, Director General
3.1 Enable parliamentary scrutiny, while balancing the need to protect the Government’s negotiating position
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Update Parliament on negotiations as part of ensuring it is as least as well informed as the European Parliament |
| Hold a vote on the final deal – covering both the Withdrawal Agreement and the terms for our future relationship with the EU – in Parliament as soon as possible after the negotiations have concluded |
| Meet all obligations to Parliament, including answering all parliamentary questions, and supporting debates and select committee inquiries, and by facilitating EU-exit themed debates in Government time |
3.2 Engage with Member States and Institutions on the UK’s objectives for its departure from the EU and the future partnership
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Deliver HMG’s strategic engagement with EU Member States, EU institutions and other key international jurisdictions and organisations |
| Work closely with UKRep, the FCO and other government departments to promote UK objectives |
3.3 Work with a wide range of other interested parties throughout the negotiations
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Undertake extensive engagement with businesses and business groups including through the cross-government Business Advisory Group and the the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Council |
| Undertake extensive engagement with civil society and non-governmental organisations |
3.4 Continue to meet the UK’s obligations as a member of the EU and promote UK interests
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Through UKRep and departments across Whitehall, continue to represent the United Kingdom’s interests as a member of the EU until withdrawal |
| Participate as a Member State at the ministerial level, including at the General Affairs Council |
| Through UKRep, in coordination with departments across Whitehall, and working closely with the Devolved Administrations, negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation until the UK’s exit |
Our performance
4. Attract, develop and retain great people and organise ourselves flexibly to deliver our objectives efficiently and effectively
Lead minister
All ministers
Lead officials
Philip Rycroft, Head of UK Governance Group and Permanent Secretary
Helen Mills, Director for Human Resources and Corporate Centre
Richard Ney, Director for Finance and Corporate Centre
4.1 Recruit, develop and retain great people
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Attract, develop and retain officials with a wide range of expertise from across government and outside the Civil Service |
| Ensure that all staff embrace the department’s values to deliver and foster collaboration in an exceptional context that respects and values diversity |
| Review resources regularly to ensure they are sufficient to deliver the Department’s objectives |
| Work with the Cabinet Office to ensure effective resourcing and deployment of EU exit skills, knowledge and experience across Whitehall |
4.2 Operate efficiently and securely
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Coordinate effective protective security measures to counter risks and combat threats |
| Share services, estates and IT wherever possible with other government departments to ensure efficient corporate activity |
4.3 Maintain effective governance structures
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Maintain corporate governance arrangements to ensure the department is accountable and flexible and that it empowers its people |
| Monitor the department’s performance against its objectives, use of resources and its risk management approach |
Our performance
DExEU People Survey engagement score
| Year | DExEU People Engagement Score (%) |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 63 |
| 2016 | 64 |
Source: Civil Service People Survey; release schedule: annual
Our equality objectives
We have set objectives to help us advance equality. These are:
1. We aim to create and maintain a diverse workforce
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Review and adjust DExEU’s aspirational representation targets for women and disabled, minority ethnic and LGB employees following analysis of relevant baseline data |
| Encourage completion of diversity data to raise declaration rates (ethnicity, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation) to facilitate the monitoring of diversity within the workforce |
| Report analysis of summary data on exits/leavers by protected characteristics and identify further actions aimed at balancing the overall picture |
| Develop an approach to increase social mobility in alignment with central Civil Service policies and strategies. |
| Maximise our use of apprentices across key business areas whilst ensuring DExEU maintains its support for the government’s strategy |
2. We aim to create a working environment that values difference and fosters an inclusive workplace culture where DExEU employees from all backgrounds, can give their best, are treated fairly, valued for their contributions, and where they can progress their careers
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Undertake an analysis of the DExEU People Survey scores for ‘inclusion’ and ‘fair treatment’ and take action to address any concerns identified |
| Use targeted communications and learning interventions to increase awareness of diversity and inclusion |
| Identify and remove barriers that prevent employees from underrepresented groups realising their full potential and progressing their careers |
| Carry out equality analysis on proposed policies and assess the need to change practice where adverse impacts are identified |
| Work to ensure that DExEU employee policies reflect best practice on flexible working, as set out in government policy |
Our finances
Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL): £93.0 million
Resource DEL (including depreciation): £92.2 million
Capital DEL: £0.8 million
Annually Managed Expenditure (AME): £3 million
Control totals included in this document are in line with those presented in the Main Supply Estimates 2018/19 and are currently subject to Parliamentary approval. Any changes arising from the Parliamentary approval process will be reflected in due course.
Source: Main Supply Estimates 2018/19
Our people
As at 31 December 2017, DExEU had 500 full-time equivalent employees. This excludes staff at the UK Permanent Representation to the EU.
Source: ONS public sector employment data; release schedule: quarterly
How we contribute to cross-government priorities
We work across government on cross-cutting issues, including:
- Employment and skills
- Immigration
- Race disparity