Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the costs incurred by his Department in the current financial year in preparation for the UK leaving the EU.

Like all departments, Defra is planning for a number of scenarios for the UK’s departure from the EU to make sure we are ready on Day 1. Over £250m of additional funding has been approved across a number of departments, including Defra, in 2017/18 to make necessary preparations. Additional funding received from the reserve for 2017/8 will be set out at Supplementary Estimates. The costs of EU Exit in 2018-19 will be affected by negotiations over the coming months.