No Deal Brexit Food Contingency Planning

Summary

The request sought a Cabinet Office paper regarding food supply contingency planning for a no-deal Brexit, which was partially disclosed with commercially sensitive retailer details redacted.

Key Facts

• Food imports to the Isle of Man operate on a 'just in time' basis via daily ferry deliveries.
• UK worst-case scenario planning anticipates significant freight delays at Dover and Eurotunnel lasting 3-6 months.
• A shortage of fresh food products is expected, though ambient products should remain available with reduced choice.
• Major food retailers have central contingency plans coordinated from their head offices.
• The Cabinet Office consulted with retailers to assess concerns and determine if government support was required.

Data Disclosed

• 2019-10-02
• 2019-10-29
• 28 March 2019
• 3-6 months
• Day 1
• Paper No. 19/114
• 9 pages
• 2 documents

Exemptions Cited

• Commercially sensitive information

Original Request

Please supply a copy of the Cabinet Office paper referred to in the March 2019 Extract of Proceedings from the Council of Ministers as per the below: Brexit Contingency Planning ' Food Council noted a paper submitted by the Cabinet Office providing information in relation to the contingency planning underway for the Island in relation to food supply, in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Data Tables (4)

Full Response Text

CONFIDENTIAL

Council of Ministers Paper No. 19/114

Paper for Council of Ministers

Department Cabinet Office, Crown & External Relations
Chief Officer Will Greenhow, Chief Secretary
Responsible Departmental Officer David Corlett, Head of Brexit Team
Cut ups to be sent to Responsible Officers Date of Council Meeting
28 March 2019

Title Brexit Contingency Planning - Food

Collective Responsibility: (Mandatory field, please choose an option)

Not a Collective Responsibility matter Which of the 3 Government Strategic Objectives does this proposal comply with?

Not Applicable Which of the Council of Ministers Sub- Committees has considered this proposal?

Not applicable The proposal relates only to the Department’s core or statutory responsibilities

Not Applicable

Has appropriate internal and/or public consultation taken place? Not applicable Are there any resource/personnel implications? Not applicable Has Treasury concurrence been obtained where necessary? Not applicable Is the Department acting within its legal powers or has legal advice been obtained? (If yes confirm and provide evidence within the paper) No Are there any inter-Departmental implications?
Yes If yes, which other Departments are involved?
ALL What is the intention of this paper?
Information Only Legislation only: Has Council approved the inclusion of the proposed Bill on the Legislative Programme
If Yes please state Minute Ref No:
Choose an item. Legislation/Policy only: Have you completed an Impact Assessment? If yes please attach a copy as an Appendix to the paper. Choose an item. Have you taken appropriate Corporate Communications Service advice?
Not applicable Does this initiative/announcement have a communications plan?
Not applicable

Purpose of the Paper:

The purpose of this paper is to inform Council of contingency planning underway for the Island in relation to food supply, in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal

CONFIDENTIAL

1. Introduction The supply of food in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal has been a primary concern when coordinating contingency planning for the island.

The importation of food to the island runs on a 'just in time' basis, with stocks for the main food retailers being delivered by ferry on a daily basis. The UK’s worst case scenario planning assumption is that there may be significant delays for freight transiting from Dover and Eurotunnel and possibly Holyhead and other ports, as Member State controls cause delays which affect flow of freight, both outbound and inbound. This will mean a significant reduction in flow of imports and exports through Dover and Eurotunnel from Day 1, and this disruption could last 3-6 months before potentially improving, or reaching a new equilibrium (the ‘new normal’).

It is anticipated that there will not be an overall shortage of food in the UK, but as the majority of fresh produce destined for the UK arrives via the key ports of Dover and Eurotunnel, a shortage of fresh food products is expected. There should not be the same concerns with ambient products, although there could be a much reduced choice on offer.

In light of this potential scenario, the Brexit Team, working with the Food Business Development Manager at DEFA as well as officers in the Department for Enterprise, have met with the main food retailers on the island, in order to understand the level of concern within their business at the prospect of a no-deal UK exit, and also to ascertain if there is any support required from Isle of Man Government.

1. Key Issues for Retailers

In order to initially gauge the level of concern, the main food retail stores

were contacted, and asked the following questions:

1. Do you have any concerns over the potential for a no deal Brexit and the impact upon your business within the Isle of Man?
2. Does your company have any concerns regarding supplying food products to the Isle of Man post Brexit?
3. Does your company have any concerns regarding logistics onto the Isle of Man post Brexit?
4. Do you require any support from the Isle of Man Government in any of your contingency planning scenarios?
5. Do you require any information from the Isle of Man Government with regard to a no deal Brexit scenario?

In general, the responses were similar across the board, and it was apparent that the larger stores have Brexit contingency plans in place, being co-ordinated centrally from their head offices. It is important to note that the following information is commercially sensitive, and was provided on the understanding that it would not be shared beyond relevant government officials and ministers:

CONFIDENTIAL

o

o

o

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o

As a whole, retailers have stressed that the Isle of Man is not at a disadvantage for not being part of the UK mainland, and the additional ferry journey is seen as the equivalent to an additional motorway drive. Isle of Man stores are supplied from UK National Distribution Centres, and as such, are on a par with other UK stores.

CONFIDENTIAL

1. Meals in Schools, Care Homes, Prison and Hospital

The Isle of Man Government provides meals for patients at the hospital, school children, care home residents and prison residents. The following numbers obviously fluctuate, however they do provide an indication of the obligation of government to vulnerable groups.

o Nobles Hospital caters for 228 in patients daily o Schools cater for 3890 primary age children o Including high schools, 2172 free school meals are provided daily o Care Homes cater for 427 residents and day centres o HM Prison caters for 120 people daily, including staff and residents

They are supplied by local retailers as follows:

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CONFIDENTIAL

In light of the fact that all these businesses are critical to the supply of meals to vulnerable groups, every effort has been made to contact their management. They have, in the main, been happy to engage, and did not express any concerns over and above those anticipated, nor was there any request or suggestion for government intervention at this point.

1. Recommendation

The Brexit Team would like to advise Council that we are seeking updated information from DEFRA in the UK, including revised detail on their messaging, in order to ensure our own communications mirror those from the UK Government.

Council is also invited to note that an emergency response mechanism has been established, in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal. This will allow us to obtain daily updates from the UK and from IOM Government department colleagues, which can be shared with the Chief Secretary, the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers if necessary.

Will Greenhow Chief Secretary Cabinet Office March 2019

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244 Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 984789 29 October 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 2 October 2019 which states:

"Please supply a copy of the Cabinet Office paper referred to in the March 2019 Extract of Proceedings from the Council of Ministers as per the below: Brexit Contingency Planning ' Food Council noted a paper submitted by the Cabinet Office providing information in relation to the contingency planning underway for the Island in relation to food supply, in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal."

Please find attached a copy of the information requested.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance some of the information is exempt from disclosure under section 30(2)(b) of the Act as disclosure would be likely to “prejudice the commercial interests of person”. As section 30 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large. Factors in favour of disclosure • The Cabinet Office recognises that there is a general public interest in openness in public affairs in order to ensure that the public are able to scrutinise the manner in which public authorities develop policies and reach important decisions; • The Cabinet Office also recognises that the above point is particularly important given the UK’s commitment to leaving the EU. Factors in favour of withholding • The advice and information provided by retailers was done so on a confidential basis. The Isle of Man Government relies on maintaining good relations with retailers. We are working closely with our food retailers but operational decisions are for them to take. We rely on their goodwill to share information with us regarding their plans. We speak to them on a confidential basis on the understanding that what they tell us will not be shared more widely than necessary. Food retailers insist on this to protect their commercial interests and to ensure their plans are not shared with competitors. Our relationship with food retailers would be damaged by disclosure and would reduce the likelihood of information being made available in the future.

• In contingency planning for the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, it is essential that officials and ministers are given the space needed to discuss live issues and policy options. • The Cabinet Office recognises the need to protect the commercial interests of the private sector, especially our major food suppliers who play an important role in the general health of the economy. In taking these factors into account, the Cabinet Office has determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.

Please quote the reference number 984789 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely