Written question asked by Roger Gale (Conservative) on Thursday, 30 November 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 December 2006. It was answered by Stephen Ladyman (Labour) on Monday, 11 December 2006 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Operation Stack

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether provision exists for the payment of compensation for (a) business and (b) personal losses arising from the implementation of Operation Stack when necessitated by industrial, civil or government action in France.

Answer: [holding answer 6 December 2006]: No provision exists for the payment of compensation for losses arising specifically from the implementation of Operation Stack. The Highways Agency works closely with all relevant stakeholders to minimise the impact of any disruption of Channel traffic due to, for example, industrial action in France.Whether any other sort of compensation is payable in the circumstances described will depend on the facts of the individual case, on which independent legal advice should be sought.An instance when compensation was paid by the French authorities was in 1996 following the French lorry drivers' dispute which lasted 12 days. Compensation was paid to some UK hauliers in respect of damage to vehicles or loads and for loss of earnings.

Secondary information