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Written question asked by Alex Norris (Labour) on Thursday, 19 July 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 July 2018 (named day). It was answered by Chris Heaton-Harris (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 July 2018 on behalf of the Department for Exiting the European Union.

Freight and Ports

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Government's withdrawal agreement on freight transport and UK ports.

Answer

Significant progress has been made on the Withdrawal Agreement, including reaching agreement at the March European Council on the legal text relating to the terms of an implementation period. This will start on 30 March 2019 and last until 31 December 2020. During the implementation period, the UK will no longer be a Member State of the European Union, but market access will continue on current terms. Common rules will remain in place until the end of the period meaning businesses will be able to trade on the same terms as now up until the end of 2020.

The Government recognises the importance to the country’s economy for trade fluidity through the UK’s key ports. We want to ensure that traders, intermediaries and freight forwarders can continue to move goods through ports as quickly and seamlessly as they do now. We have set up a Border Delivery Group to bring together individual departmental plans, forming an overall picture and plan of what we need to do at borders.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
166253
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Freight Ports Brexit
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk