The government has today published a tranche of documents laying out how the UK will cope with a no-deal Brexit.
Ministers will release the first batch of around 70 technical notices offering advice to business, public bodies and the public on how best to prepare for the possibility of Britain leaving the EU without a deal.
They suggested the UK would remain closely tied to EU rules at first, with Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said the first 25 documents published today would set out the "responsible" approach to the future of the country.
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The government has ramped up its preparations for a no-deal Brexit in recent weeks as negotiations look set to go down to the wire ahead of the March 2019 exit date, and in a speech in Westminster, Rabb will say the papers are "a sensible, measured, and proportionate approach to minimising the impact of no-deal on British firms, citizens, charities and public bodies".
He added: “Our overarching aim is to facilitate the smooth continued functioning of business, transport, infrastructure, research, aid programmes and funding streams,” he explained.
Raab hinted that the UK would remain closely aligned to EU rules in a bid to help manage the uncertainty that could result from a no-deal scenario - but could deviate later down the line.
“In some cases, it means taking unilateral action to maintain as much continuity as possible in the short term, in the event of no-deal – irrespective of whether the EU reciprocates," he explained.
“Of course, while we may take that approach in the short-term, we will be outside the EU, and free to diverge when we are ready, on our terms, in the UK national interest, and when it’s right for the UK people.”
Emergency measures would include the stockpiling of medicines for six weeks and to keep the border in Northern Ireland open, as well as details of plans for nuclear regulation, pensions and financial services.
“What we are going to do today is be honest about the risks, inform those affected… and give some guidance,” he told Radio 4’s Today programme.
He added: “I don’t think the word turmoil will appear in any of the technical notices. What we will do is set out the technical arrangements we can unilaterally put in place.”
The notices set out clear steps that public institutions, companies and people should take or consider taking to avoid or mitigate any short-term disruption, Raab said.
“The overarching aim of the notices is to facilitate the smooth, continued, functioning of business, transport, infrastructure, research, aid programmes and funding streams that have previously come from the EU.
“In some cases, it will mean taking unilateral action to maintain as much continuity as possible at least in the short term, in the event of no deal, and irrespective of whether the EU reciprocates in practice.”