(Title Image: Cardiff University)
The Wales Audit Office has said in a new report (pdf) that the public sector in Wales was making progress in preparing for Brexit, but there were still some areas where more work was needed.
The report said the public sector has correctly identified key areas of potential risk, but the depth and number of plans vary. They add that more could be done to share risk and planning across the public sector as a whole.
“I don’t expect every public body to have exhaustive plans for every implication, risk and opportunity. But with just weeks to go to a possible ‘no-deal’ Brexit, it’s clear that public bodies still have much to do to prepare themselves and the Welsh public. The key messages in my report should act as a spur to strengthen and accelerate planning across Wales.”
– Auditor General, Adrian Crompton
In a joint statement, the chairs of the Senedd’s External Affairs and Public Accounts committees said in response to the report:
“Whilst it is clear that public bodies across Wales are taking their no-deal planning seriously, we are concerned to learn that some had been adopting a wait and see approach.
“The implications of Brexit represent a major challenge for public bodies and much remains to be done. We endorse the Auditor General’s key messages to strengthen the arrangements for a no-deal Brexit across public services.”
– David Rees AM (Lab, Aberavon) & Nick Ramsay AM (Con, Monmouth)
