Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Burghart Excerpts

Thursday 4th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Barclay]

I know from my time as a Health Minister that the hon. Lady always asks very pertinent questions in respect of health matters. She will be well aware of the statement issued by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which said how well prepared the NHS was. It has been our priority to ensure that we maintain the supply of medicines and to ensure that the NHS is a priority in our contingency planning. That is the responsible thing for a Government to do.

[Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) (Con)]

3. What estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of his Department’s preparations for the UK to leave the EU.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Mr Robin Walker)]

Since its formation, our Department has spent £25 million in 2016-17 and £58 million in 2017-18, and it has budgeted £96 million for 2018-19, but of course the Government have also allocated substantial sums to fund departmental preparations and preparations by devolved Administrations for EU exit.

[Alex Burghart]

I thank the Minister for his answer. Has his Department conducted any analysis of the costs of running a second referendum, and will he confirm that a second referendum is not Government policy?

[Mr Walker]

I can certainly confirm the latter. A second referendum would create further uncertainty and division. We do not think it is the right way forward.