The Department engages with the FTA and RHA regularly on issues related to the UK’s departure from the EU, preparations for the end of the Transition Period and the progress of the ongoing negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

Government Ministers and officials meet frequently with key stakeholders, including the Freight Trade Association and Trade Unions, as part of our comprehensive engagement on EU exit.

In the recently published White Paper on the Future Relationship Between the UK and the EU, the Government set out that we will explore options for a reciprocal access deal for road hauliers and passenger transport operators. There is a strong mutual interest in reaching an ambitious agreement, which maximises benefits for all our citizens and businesses. We will continue to work with industry to ensure that the interests of the logistics sector are properly reflected as we start to negotiate our withdrawal from the EU.

The White Paper sets out a new proposal for a Facilitated Customs Arrangement (FCA). The FCA is a business-friendly model that seeks to facilitate the greatest possible trade between the UK and its trading partners, whether in Europe or rest of world, while allowing the UK to set its own tariffs. The Government will continue to work with the FTA and other key stakeholders to resolve the remaining areas of detail.

The Government is committed to continuing to engage with stakeholders to ensure that their views and concerns are fully understood and taken into account and to ensure that our planning is effective and practical.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) was appointed to undertake the role of the UK Short Sea Promotion Centre as part of it taking over responsibility and funding for Freight by Water in November 2010, a consortium of interests seeking to increase the amount of freight carried by ship and barge. Part of the role of the Promotion Centre is to attend meetings of the European Commission regarding short-sea and coastal shipping policy and the movement of freight by inland waterway. Officials from the Department for Transport also attended these meetings, until 2012. Since then, given that the FTA attends in any case to represent UK industry, FTA has been the sole UK representative at four meetings relating to European waterborne freight issues.

Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings and discussions with a wide variety of authorities as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.