Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robin Walker and Alex Burghart

Thursday 4th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[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.