Select committee: Foreign Affairs Committee

Implications of leaving the EU for the UK's role in the world inquiry

Closed Opened 28 Jun 2016 Closed 3 May 2017

Foreign Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)

Even with all sides entering negotiations with goodwill and the desire for a successful outcome, the Foreign Affairs Committee points out in its report that negotiations could stall or be derailed and the two years could end with no deal between the UK and the 27 Member States.

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 28 June 2016.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 2nd Report - Equipping the Government for Brexit on 20 July 2016.

The government's response

Published 19 December 2016.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government welcomes the Committee's inquiry and sets out its response to each recommendation, without accepting the calls for a substantial funding increase or the 'gross negligence' finding in terms.

On funding, the Government says cross-Government discussions are underway on how the FCO allocates the resources required, which "will help ensure" it has what it needs. It does not commit to a substantial increase.
It points to the Chancellor's Autumn Statement announcement of £10m over the Spending Review period for jointly-funded FCO and Department for International Trade trade policy officers.
On staff moving to DExEU, the Government says they are "being loaned" and can return, with the associated funding, "in the event that DExEU’s work is complete", without prejudice to future Ministerial decisions.
On contingency planning, it notes that the previous Government "took the decision not to undertake planning" and says the current Government is working on its approach, with the Prime Minister leading negotiations supported by DExEU and the FCO.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

2nd Report - Equipping the Government for Brexit20 July 2016

All reports

Evidence

5 oral evidence sessionsLatest 7 February 2017

All evidence

Recent activity

Oral evidence session7 February 2017, Oral evidence
5th Special Report: Equipping the Government for Brexit: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report19 December 2016, Report published
Oral evidence session13 December 2016, Oral evidence

Reports

1 report

2nd Report - Equipping the Government for Brexit

HC No.: HC 431
Published: 20 Jul 2016
Items: 0
Government response: Government response published 19 December 2016. Read the government's response ↗

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions

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Date	Session and witnesses	Source
7 Feb 2017	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗
13 Dec 2016	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗
13 Sep 2016	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗
5 Jul 2016	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗
28 Jun 2016	Oral evidence session No witnesses recorded	View ↗

Correspondence

2 letters

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Published	Direction	Letter
13 Sep 2016	To committee	Letter from the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee on 13 September 2016, on UK exit from the EU
13 Sep 2016	To committee	Letter from the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee to the Attorney-General on 29 June 2016, on UK exit from the EU