Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he had with (a) local authorities, (b) Police and Crime Commissioners and (c) non-governmental bodies before deciding to recruit for G7 Resilience Advisers: EU Exit Readiness and Response Support to Local Preparedness; what the estimated (i) gross and (ii) associated costs are of those appointments; for what reason his Department decided not to make a Departmental submission to the Treasury to fund those posts and their associated costs from resources allocated to EU exit-related activity; and what Departmental work will be displaced to fund that programme.
Answer
It is in everyone’s interests to secure a good deal for both sides and we think that is by far and away the highest probability, but we have a duty to plan for the alternative. Government is doing the sensible thing and taking precautions as we plan for all scenarios.
I have had no discussions with external partners about this recruitment to fill internal vacancies within our wider team of Resilience Advisers. The costs of these appointments, including salaries and associated costs are estimated at approximately £119,377.
Alongside other government departments, my department is in on going discussions with Treasury about any additional resource requirements for Brexit-related activity.