Freedom of Information Team
xxx@xxxxx.xxx.xx
Correspondence Unit
www.gov.uk
9 Downing Street
SW1A 2AG
G Webber
Via: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Our ref: DEX001248
29 June 2018
Dear G Webber,
I refer to your request, where you asked:
"According to 'The Guardian': ""Three scenarios drawn up in Whitehall and obtained by 'The
Sunday Times' – the worst referred to as 'armageddon' – lay out the consequences should Britain
walk away from the negotiating table.""
Some alleged details of the middle of the three scenarios were reported, to which your
spokesperson responded: ""These claims are completely false.""
If your position is that the leaked claims are false, I'm sure you will want to take this opportunity to
prove it by releasing all three scenarios in an electronic format under the Freedom of Information
Act."
Government policy regarding FOI requests in relation to alleged leaked information is to
neither confirm nor deny if the Department holds any information. However, in this instance
I can confirm the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) does not hold any
information relevant to your request.
Your request asks for information on three scenarios in which ‘no deal’ might occur,
including an ‘armageddon’ scenario. This is not how the Department structures its work and
the scenarios referenced in the article mentioned in your request do not exist.
The Department supports the Secretary of State in our exit and future relationship
negotiations with the EU. Furthermore, the Department plans for all possible outcomes from
these negotiations. The very aim of our contingency planning is to ensure that disruption is
minimised and the UK is prepared to succeed in all eventualities.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact the FOI team. Please remember to
quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request or wish to
request an internal review, you should write to xxx@xxxxx.xxx.xx or:
Freedom of Information Team (internal review)
Department for Exiting the European Union
9 Downing Street
SW1A 2AG
You should note that DExEU will not normally accept an application for internal review if it is
received more than two months after the date that the reply was issued.
If you are not content with the outcome of your internal review, you may apply directly to the
Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Commissioner cannot make a
decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by DExEU. The
Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team, DExEU.
