PREPARATIONS for Britain’s Brexit negotiations with the EU will “take some time” because of the UK Government’s determination to involve the Scottish Government in the complex process, No 10 has indicated as Theresa May today travels to Berlin for talks with German chancellor Angela Merkel.

READ MORE: Report: Scottish and UK growth will slow to crawl post-Brexit vote, recession possible

The Prime Minister’s foreign visit comes as the first major sign of economic jitters about Brexit emerged with the International Monetary Fund slashing its 2017 growth forecast for the UK by almost one per cent, stressing how Britain’s decision to leave the EU had “thrown a spanner in the works” of the global economic recovery.

Mrs May, who has spoken of a “UK approach” to Brexit, making clear, however, this does not give the Scottish Government a veto on the process, will have a bilateral with Mrs Merkel before a working dinner.

READ MORE: Report: Scottish and UK growth will slow to crawl post-Brexit vote, recession possible

It will be Mrs May’s first overseas trip as PM and will be followed tomorrow by a similar one to the Elysee Palace in Paris for talks with President Francois Hollande. Brexit and the recent terror attacks will be on the agenda on both occasions.

Downing Street said that the trips were aimed at forging strong relationships with the two powerhouse countries and were an attempt to establish the personal relations that will pave the way for open and frank discussions in the months ahead as the UK negotiated its departure from the EU.

It said the PM was expected to say that it would “take some time to prepare for those negotiations as the UK government consults with the devolved administrations and different industry sectors to determine what our objectives should be for that negotiation”.

READ MORE: Report: Scottish and UK growth will slow to crawl post-Brexit vote, recession possible

The preparations for the full talks, which will begin with the triggering of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, could take months. David Davis, the Brexit secretary, has already suggested the negotiations with Brussels could begin early next year, meaning Britain’s divorce from the EU could be completed at the beginning of 2019.

Speaking ahead of the Berlin visit, Mrs May said: “I am determined Britain will make a success of leaving the European Union and that’s why I have decided to visit Berlin and Paris so soon after taking office. These visits will be an opportunity to forge a strong working relationship that we can build upon and which I hope to develop with more leaders across the European Union in the weeks and months ahead.”

She said she did not underestimate the challenge of negotiating Brexit but stressed that she firmly believed “being able to talk frankly and openly about the issues we face will be an important part of a successful negotiation”.

The PM added: “I also want to deliver a very clear message about the importance we attach to our bilateral relationship with our European partners, not just now but also when we have left the European Union. These relationships have been vital in the past and they will be vital in the future as we continue to work together to keep our people safe and to support economic growth that benefits people across our countries.”

Yesterday, Mrs May attended her first cabinet as premier, telling ministers they must "get to it and get on with the job". She said Britain was "at a turning point" and there was a responsibility on all ministers to make Brexit a success for all sections of society, emphasising how economic success needed to be shared so as to help those with the least opportunities and who relied most on public services.

Signalling her desire to control the Brexit process fully, it was announced that three new cabinet committees would be established, all to be chaired by the PM. They will cover Brexit, industrial strategy and social reform.

Today, Mrs May will experience another first as premier - leading at Prime Minister's Questions opposite Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Meantime, on his visit to London for talks with Boris Johnson, the new foreign secretary, John Kerry, the US secretary of state, echoed US president Barack Obama’s pre-Scottish independence referendum line about wanting the UK to stay together.

Mr Kerry mentioned Mrs May’s reference to the Union as a “precious bond,” saying the language was “reassuring and important”.

He added: “The United States of America depends on a strong United Kingdom and we mean united.”