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Details of the government’s preparations for a no-deal Brexit have been released, as last-minute talks continue in Brussels.
It has emerged that the government has spent £ 4bn on measures to limit disruption to trade and travel, including introducing new border requirements to allow goods to flow afterBrexi.
More than 900 additional border officers have been hired and about 1,100 more will be hired in March, and more than 20 different helplines are expected to provide advice to businesses.
The government said it had practiced “all foreseeable scenarios” with different ministers responsible for a variety of issues that a no-deal Brexit could raise.
“These plans work in real life, not just on paper,” said a government spokesman.
“We have conducted live exercises to move fresh produce and fish across the border, and revolt warships to respond to the threats of illegal fishing in our soon-to-sovereign waters.
“We have tested our traffic management plans and are confident that we have the tools to mitigate the disruptions and queues at the border that will inevitably occur in the first few weeks as merchants adapt to new requirements.”
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‘Britain should be very concerned about a no deal’
It comes as Britain steps up its contingency planning for when it leaves the European Union on December 31.
The Daily Operations Committee, known as the XO and responsible for the no-deal setup, has met 200 times and is chaired by Michael Gove.
The XO seeks to increase public awareness of the changing rules that will go into effect in just under three weeks.
“As with any major change, agreement or no agreement, there will be challenges and obstacles to overcome,” the government spokesman said.
“There will be new rules for travelers and merchants, this would be the case with a free trade agreement, just as it would be without one.
“We have chosen to organize the introduction of our new border requirements, but the EU has not.
“That is why companies must be prepared for the new requirements on January 1 regardless of the outcome, or risk goods bypassing borders and being added to queues.”
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CBI CEO Tony Danker has called for “grace periods” to be agreed so that companies do not face a “damaging gulf”.
He said: “Many businesses and many jobs are at stake in these negotiations, so we call on politicians on both sides of the Canal to find their way through this.
“But with less than three weeks to go, we also need to plan in parallel for January 1, agreement or no agreement.
“That means everything from border systems and processes to data adequacy and financial services equivalency. It also means allowing reasonable grace periods for companies to adjust to product relabeling and gradual introduction of controls. borderlines.
“We need both parties to be deeply practical and remove the immediate threat of a damaging cliff.”
Meanwhile, talks between the UK and the EU are still running into obstacles, with both sides pointing out that a deal seems unlikely.
UK chief negotiator David Frost and the EU’s Michel Barnier are due to resume talks in Brussels on Sunday in a bid to strike a deal and avoid a no-deal Brexit.
It is understood that Boris Johnson and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will also hold talks to avoid a collapse of the process.
