THE TREASURY has drawn up emergency funds to fight water shortages, blackouts and “loss of human life” under a No Deal Brexit, the Sun can reveal.
Cabinet Ministers will today be sent a letter outlining how departments can access money at short notice to respond to “acute pressures”.
Officials will be able to access the emergency cash in “events or situations” that threaten serious damage to human health such as “disruption of a supply of money, food, water, energy or fuel”.
The guidance from Treasury Secretary Liz Truss and de-facto deputy PM David Lidington insists ‘urgent requirement’ funds will be released within a maximum of six days.
And a Whitehall source said the threat of a Brexit wrecking amendment on No Deal from from rebels wouldn't affect the spending.
It threatens a new ‘Project Fear’ with arch Eurosceptics who have accused Downing Street of trying to scare MPs into backing Theresa May’s Brexit deal.
The move comes as the Government launches a radio advertising blitz with advice for Brits and EU citizens alike about travel arrangements and settlement rights after Brexit. The first go live on commercial stations at 6am today.
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A Whitehall source last night insisted the letter was a response from Cabinet Ministers for clarification over how money could be accessed in emergencies. Departments are separately being urged to make a submission for extra No Deal preparation cash for 2018-2019 by January 14.
The source told The Sun: “We’re clear we’re preparing for all options which is why we’ve already provided £4 billion in funding for deal or no deal. Today’s letter takes this further and says if there is a civil contingency in a No Deal scenario – and that’s a very big if – the Treasury will work with departments on finding the money required and releasing it.”
The Chancellor last month released £2 billion of ‘No Deal’ funding for 2019-2020. The Sun revealed for just £530 million was spent by Government departments on 2018-2019.
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