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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/10/whitehall-points-of-failure-inevitable-after-brexit-says-nao-chief
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| Whitehall 'points of failure' inevitable after Brexit, says NAO chief | Whitehall 'points of failure' inevitable after Brexit, says NAO chief |
| (2 months later) | |
| Government departments must be prepared for failures while implementing changes relating to Brexit, the head of Whitehall’s spending watchdog has said, with the Department for Transport (DfT) at particular risk of running into problems. | Government departments must be prepared for failures while implementing changes relating to Brexit, the head of Whitehall’s spending watchdog has said, with the Department for Transport (DfT) at particular risk of running into problems. |
| Sir Amyas Morse, the controller at the National Audit Office, told a committee of MPs that the size of the task facing the civil service meant some “points of failure” were inevitable. | Sir Amyas Morse, the controller at the National Audit Office, told a committee of MPs that the size of the task facing the civil service meant some “points of failure” were inevitable. |
| He singled out Chris Grayling’s department, which is in charge of air traffic management, security and frictionless travel to the EU, for downplaying the possible risks of Brexit. | He singled out Chris Grayling’s department, which is in charge of air traffic management, security and frictionless travel to the EU, for downplaying the possible risks of Brexit. |
| The auditor general expressed deep concerns about excessive secrecy over Brexit in Whitehall. Some senior civil servants had been reading NAO reports to find out about Brexit preparations in their own department, he told MPs. He also said business leaders had not been able to prepare properly for possible disruption because of a lack of information. | The auditor general expressed deep concerns about excessive secrecy over Brexit in Whitehall. Some senior civil servants had been reading NAO reports to find out about Brexit preparations in their own department, he told MPs. He also said business leaders had not been able to prepare properly for possible disruption because of a lack of information. |
| Morse’s critical assessment of the government’s Brexit readiness was made at an Exiting the European Union committee hearing. He told MPs that changes around the borders were a particular problem for the government, with the DfT not acknowledging the real possibility of failure. | Morse’s critical assessment of the government’s Brexit readiness was made at an Exiting the European Union committee hearing. He told MPs that changes around the borders were a particular problem for the government, with the DfT not acknowledging the real possibility of failure. |
| “I have some concerns that because [the DfT] is faced with this task, approaching it very vigorously and needing to be very positive about it, they’ve convinced themselves that it’s less risky than it actually is,” he said. | “I have some concerns that because [the DfT] is faced with this task, approaching it very vigorously and needing to be very positive about it, they’ve convinced themselves that it’s less risky than it actually is,” he said. |
| Morse said there was a risk that flights would be grounded if there is a no-deal Brexit, and the UK was relying on “goodwill” to solve possible problems. | Morse said there was a risk that flights would be grounded if there is a no-deal Brexit, and the UK was relying on “goodwill” to solve possible problems. |
| Senior civil servants are in constant contact with the NAO, and Morse said he had been surprised by the level of secrecy within departments, which may have hindered Brexit preparations. | Senior civil servants are in constant contact with the NAO, and Morse said he had been surprised by the level of secrecy within departments, which may have hindered Brexit preparations. |
| “Members of the civil service have been using our reports to find out what’s happening on Brexit … if you’re asking people to be behind what you’re doing, you need to make sure they do know what the overall enterprise is,” he said. | “Members of the civil service have been using our reports to find out what’s happening on Brexit … if you’re asking people to be behind what you’re doing, you need to make sure they do know what the overall enterprise is,” he said. |
| Secrecy surrounding preparations had been taken too far, he said, particularly for businesses. He understood the “desire to not cause concern”, but said: “It has carried a heavy price with it.” | Secrecy surrounding preparations had been taken too far, he said, particularly for businesses. He understood the “desire to not cause concern”, but said: “It has carried a heavy price with it.” |
| Morse added: “I think they underestimate the capability and maturity of the business community. They are actually very good at running their businesses. If you don’t give them a chance to plan ahead and solve the problem you put them in a very difficult position.” | Morse added: “I think they underestimate the capability and maturity of the business community. They are actually very good at running their businesses. If you don’t give them a chance to plan ahead and solve the problem you put them in a very difficult position.” |
| As well as the DfT, Morse expressed concerns about the readiness of HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. “We think they are the ones with the most significant Brexit issues,” he said. | As well as the DfT, Morse expressed concerns about the readiness of HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. “We think they are the ones with the most significant Brexit issues,” he said. |
| Morse said money spent on no-deal preparations would not have been wasted if the UK secured a Brexit deal. “I think it is very important to not criticise that, unless it has really been careless, because it insured us against a real risk that is still there now.” | Morse said money spent on no-deal preparations would not have been wasted if the UK secured a Brexit deal. “I think it is very important to not criticise that, unless it has really been careless, because it insured us against a real risk that is still there now.” |
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