May urged to ACT NOW as its revealed HUNDREDS of Brexit negotiating jobs are not filled
THERESA MAY has been urged to act now after it emerged hundreds of civil service jobs for Brexit negotiators have not been filled - just days before the Prime Minister triggers Article 50.
The Government has only filled two thirds of the 1,000 civil servant jobs it has created to help with the talks to pull Britain out of the European Union (EU).
The public watchdog warning comes just days before Theresa May is poised to trigger the formal process for quitting the bloc on Wednesday.
The National Audit Office (NAO) said: “As of February 2017, the civil service has created over a thousand new roles in the new departments and elsewhere to prepare for exiting the EU and negotiating new trade agreements.
Two-thirds of the roles have been filled, mostly by transferring staff from elsewhere in government
“Two-thirds of the roles have been filled, mostly by transferring staff from elsewhere in government. There has not been a commensurate increase in the overall size of the civil service.”
It said “progress so far has been slower than the growth in the challenges the civil service is facing”, while calling on the Government to show “greater urgency” in filling skill gaps in Whitehall.
The public spending watchdog warned Brexit will “further increase the capability challenges” facing the Government.
The report said: “Government projects too often go ahead without government knowing whether departments have the skills to deliver them.
“Government is facing ever-increasing challenges in providing public services. Continuing budgetary restraint is putting pressure on departments, which are already managing important reforms with fewer staff and smaller budgets.
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But Sir Jeremy Heywood, the head of Civil Service, defended the Government saying they are “focused” on delivering its commitment to leave the EU.
He added: The UK is well placed to deal with the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities, that lie ahead as we prepare for Brexit.
“We are focused on delivering this Government's commitment to leave the EU and get the very best deal for the UK. We are equipping ourselves with the right people and the right skills across government to make this happen.
“At the same time, the civil service is also working hard to make sure that all the priorities of the Government are being delivered.”