Government can’t rely on ‘make do and mend’ approach to civil service delivering Brexit, says FDA

13 Oct 2016 01:17 PM

Speaking on BBC News yesterday, FDA General Secretary Dave Penman again called on the Government to make clear how it will resource the UK's exit from the European Union.

Penman said: "The civil service faced a 20% cut in resources over the last Parliament, with a further 20% announced in the last Spending Review. The civil service now has to carry out its biggest single job since the Second World War in the UK's exit from the EU, and not a single word has been spoken from the Government about resources.

"A 'make do and mend' approach won't do - the Government needs to provide the civil service with the capability and capacity necessary to deliver a successful EU exit. In his upcoming Autumn Statement, the Chancellor needs to outline what resources will be provided."

Notes for editors

  1. The FDA is the trade union for the UK's senior public servants and professionals at grade HEO and above. FDA membership includes more than 18,000 senior civil servants, diplomats, Government policy advisors, prosecutors, tax professionals, economists, solicitors and other professionals working across Government and the NHS.
  2. The FDA (formerly the First Division Association) should be referred to simply as "The FDA" and can be described as "the senior public servants' union". 
  3. The FDA can be found on Twitter @FDA_union and at www.fda.org.uk.
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