Department for Exiting the European Union single departmental plan
Updated 27 June 2019
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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 leads the government’s preparations for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU) including delivering legislation and shaping a successful exit. The Department is also coordinating the cross-government programme of preparations and negotiations for the future relationship.
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:
- Achieve the best possible outcome for the UK’s departure from the EU; and build a new ambitious, deep and special future partnership between the UK and the EU
- Coordinate delivery and legislation across government, to ensure the UK is prepared for all scenarios, including a smooth transition to our future relationship with the European Union
- Engage with Parliament, Member States and interested parties at home and abroad to shape a successful exit from the EU and to help build an ambitious future relationship
- Attract, develop and retain diverse and great people to organise ourselves flexibly and to deliver our objectives effectively and efficiently
1. Achieve the best possible outcome for the UK’s departure from the EU; and build a new ambitious, deep and special future partnership between the UK and the EU
Lead minister
The RT Hon Stephen Barclay MP, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
Lead official[s]
Clare Moriarty, Permanent Secretary
Sir Tim Barrow, KCMG LVO MBE, UK Permanent Representative to the EU
Susannah Storey, Director General
Alex Ellis, Director General
1.1 Achieve a successful departure from the European Union on the best possible terms, including an implementation period to allow all involved time to adjust, and to provide certainty
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Support the government’s objectives on the Withdrawal Agreement and negotiations for the development of the framework for the future partnership in both negotiated and contingency scenarios |
| 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 |
1.2 Build a deep and special future relationship that protects our shared interests and values
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Develop a uniquely ambitious, deep and comprehensive economic partnership covering trade in goods and services and wider sectoral cooperation |
| Establish a broad, comprehensive and balanced 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 including 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 |
2. Coordinate delivery and legislation across government, to ensure the UK is prepared for all scenarios, including a smooth transition to our future relationship with the European Union
Lead ministers
All Ministers
Lead official[s]
Clare Moriarty, Permanent Secretary
Sir Tim Barrow, KCMG LVO MBE, UK Permanent Representative to the EU
Susannah Storey, Director General
Alex Ellis, 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, and build a future partnership with 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, and build a future partnership with 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 necessary legislation to help implement the UK’s exit from the EU |
| Oversee all EU Exit-related primary and secondary legislation across government, working closely with other government departments |
| 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 |
| Ensure businesses, workers and consumers can access legislation relevant to EU Exit |
2.3 Coordinate and oversee the delivery of domestic policy and plans that are coherent with negotiations; and support, monitor and catalyse their implementation
| 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 all scenarios – both negotiated and contingency |
| 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 |
| Convene cross-government taskforces and working groups to ensure government develops a single, coherent policy or approach, when appropriate |
2.4 Lead cross-government work on international agreements
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Lead cross-government work to transition our most important international agreements that are affected by the UK’s exit from the EU |
| Seek continuity, where appropriate, for businesses and citizens to avoid unintended consequences in our relationships with third countries and multilateral organisations |
| Lead engagement with a range of priority countries on international agreements |
Our performance
You can read about preparations for EU Exit and any policy changes here.
3. Engage with Parliament, Member States and interested parties at home and abroad to shape a successful exit from the EU and to help build an ambitious future relationship
Lead ministers
All Ministers
Lead official[s]
Clare Moriarty, Permanent Secretary
Sir Tim Barrow, KCMG LVO MBE, UK Permanent Representative to the EU
Susannah Storey, Director General
Alex Ellis, Director General
3.1 Engage with Parliament and enable continuing Parliamentary scrutiny of the UK’s preparations for its withdrawal from and negotiations on its future relationship with the EU
| How we will achieve this |
|---|
| Identify and facilitate the delivery of the necessary measures to ensure Parliament is fully and appropriately engaged in UK exit and future relationship negotiations |
| Take forward commitments to the statutory role of Parliament in the development of the future relationship |
| Meet all obligations to Parliament, including answering all parliamentary questions, and supporting debates and Select Committee inquiries |
3.2 Engage with Member States and Institutions on the UK’s objectives for its departure from the EU and the future relationship
| 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 Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Council |
| Undertake 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
You can read more on our news and communications here and see transparency data on Ministerial and Officials meetings here.
4. Attract, develop and retain diverse and great people and organise ourselves flexibly to deliver our objectives efficiently and effectively
Lead ministers
All Ministers
Lead official[s]
Clare Moriarty, Permanent Secretary
Helen Mills, Director for Corporate Centre
Sir Tim Barrow, KCMG LVO MBE, UK Permanent Representative to the EU
Susannah Storey, Director General
Alex Ellis, Director General
4.1 Recruit, develop and retain diverse and great people
| How we will achieve this | -|- Attract, develop and retain diverse people with a wide range of experiences and 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 | Work to ensure that public appointments made by DExEU contribute to realising the ambition that by 2022, 50% of all public appointees are female and 14% of all public appointments made are from ethic minorities |
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, flexible and continues to empower its people |
| Monitor the department’s performance against its objectives, use of resources and its risk management approach |
Our performance
| Year | People survey engagement score |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 68% |
| 2017 | 63% |
| 2016 | 64% |
Source: Civil Service People Survey / Release schedule: annually
Representation of female staff, ethnic minority staff and disabled staff
| Year | Female | Ethic minority | Disabled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 60% | 21.6% | 12.2% |
| 2017 | 52% | 11.9% | - |
Source: Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Dashboard / Release schedule: annually
Public Value Framework
To support the delivery of our objectives, we will be improving our performance against the Public Value Framework in the following areas: implementing planning and monitoring progress; user and client experience and participation; workforce capacity.
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 DExEU’s aspirational representation targets for women and disabled, minority ethnic and LGBTQ employees.
- Encourage completion of diversity data to raise declaration rates.
- Report analysis of summary data on leavers by protected characteristics and identify further actions.
- 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:
- Analyse the DExEU People Survey scores for ‘inclusion’ and ‘fair treatment’ and take action to address concerns.
- 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 impacts are identified.
3.We aim to ensure the ambitious and successful development of inclusive and fair policies that impact wider society.
How we will achieve this:
- Work closely with local government and elected mayors to ensure the interests of every region, and its citizens, are taken into account.
- Undertake engagement with civil society and non-governmental organisations.
Our finances
Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL): £93.9 million
Resource DEL (including depreciation): £93.8 million
Capital DEL: £0.1 million
Annually Managed Expenditure (AME): £0.5 million
Control totals included in this document are in line with those presented in the Main Supply Estimates 2019/20 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 2019/20
Our people
As at 31 December 2018, DExEU had 590 full-time equivalent employees.
Source: ONS public sector employment data / Release schedule: quarterly