Thread by @hzeffman

EXCLUSIVE: Government planning a "hardship fund" for no-deal Brexit

Here are only some of the "actions arising" from a meeting of the cabinet's no-deal preparedness committee earlier this month. Just direct quotes from the document circulated afterwards.

thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/n…

LOCAL RESILIENCE FORUMS, via the MINISTRY OF HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT to report on potential impacts, including any communities known to be geographically vulnerable to disruptions to food supplies.

HM TREASURY and the DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS to undertake work to consider mitigating consumer impacts of increases in cost of living through tax and benefits policy. This work should focus on consumer groups who would be particularly vulnerable to price increases.

To plan for the impacts of food supply disruptions to the public sector, the DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION, the DEPARTMENT FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE and the MINISTRY OF JUSTICE should focus on: a) Handling potential for increased costs in conjunction with HER MAJESTY’S TREASURY...

...b) Enabling a flexible approach by suppliers, working with suppliers on menu flexibility including food substitutions working with PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND ...

...c) ALL DEPARTMENTS should work with the DEVOLVED ADMINISTRATIONS to support their own contingency planning for public sector food.

The DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS to recommend to the Committee how long the unilateral commitment to uprate state pensions should last.

DWP, HM TREASURY, the DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION, the DEPARTMENT FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE, HOME OFFICE and MINISTRY OF HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (officials and ministers) to work on the detail of a possible hardship fund, and revising operational guidance.

The DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION should return to EUXT (P) with proposals for how long UK nationals and family members residing in the EEA and Switzerland should retain access to student finance and home fees should they return to England.

The HOME OFFICE should undertake further work, engaging with relevant departments, and return to EUXT (P) with proposals on family reunification rights of returning UK nationals.

ALL DEPARTMENTS to report on local government readiness, and return new burdens assessments and capacity funding allocation as soon as possible to the DEPARTMENT FOR EXITING THE EUROPEAN UNION and the MINISTRY OF HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Sorry, I know Brexit threads are annoying. But this is an official record of what is being discussed at the very top of government with barely more than a month to go until March 29