Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many officials from his Department have been seconded from their primary role to make preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and if he will make a statement.

A number of central teams have been established within the Department to lead and manage the work required to prepare for the UK's exit from the EU. These teams have been built up in a phased and gradual manner to reflect the increase in work associated with our exit from the EU. Until recently approximately 60 staff were deployed to this work, which covers all exit scenarios including a no deal scenario. We have however now redeployed a further 30 staff from their previous role to work on these central teams. Other staff from across the Department will have been redeployed within their Directorates to support or undertake work which will involve preparations for the UK's exit from the EU in all scenarios.