Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2019 to Question 274650 on Large Goods Vehicles: EU Countries, which bilateral agreements he expects to be (a) revived and (b) reinstated.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
It is our view that, in the absence of an EU agreement, 21 historic bilateral agreements would revive in full on exit as they have not been expressly terminated. Agreements with Ireland, Denmark, Spain, Belgium and Italy have terminated, but offer a good basis for future discussions.
Some of the revived agreements may need some amendments to make them fit for purpose, which can be done by an exchange of notes between the Parties.
For those agreements that are no longer in force, we would expect to conclude new treaties in the absence of EU-wide arrangements.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) ECMT and (b) short-term ECMT international road haulage permits have been (i) applied for, (ii) approved and (iii) refused each month in the last 12 months.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The monthly breakdown for the requested figures is as follows:
| Annual ECMT Permits | Short Term ECMT Permits | ||||
| Applied | Approved | Refused | Applied | Approved | Refused |
Oct-18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nov-18 | 3,781 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dec-18 | 4,493 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jan-19 | 3,118 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Feb-19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mar-19 | 582 | 1,602 | 10,408 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Apr-19 | 0 | 467 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 |
May-19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jun-19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Jul-19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Aug-19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
Sep-19 |
| 0 | 0 | 224 | 72 | 40 |
Short-term ECMT permits have only been refused where the proposed journey can be conducted without an ECMT permit.
As of 2 October 2019, 112 short-term ECMT permit requests are under consideration. These are usually within 10 working days, it may be longer where the need has to be established.
Annual ECMT permit applications were mostly made in anticipation of the UK leaving the EU on 29 March 2019 when there were no other confirmed market access arrangements in place.
On 25 March 2019 the EU adopted Regulation 2019/501 for basic road transport connectivity if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Under the regulation, UK hauliers will be able to carry out road haulage to EU Member States until 31 December 2019 and make the vast majority journeys without a permit.
The European Commission has also, on 4 September 2019, published a proposal to extend this measure until 31 July 2020.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential environmental impact of Operation Brock in the event that the UK leave the EU without a deal.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Environmental assessments have been undertaken for Operation Brock. Specifically, by Highways England for measures on the M20 and by this Department for the Special Development Order for Manston lorry park.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 08 January 2019 to Question 206390 on Ferries: Scotland, if he will undertake a review of his policy on funding ferries services in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal as a result of the cancelling of the Seaborne Freight contract.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The termination of the Seaborne Freight contract has not led the Government to review its policy in relation to ferry operations from Scottish ports.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what procurement and tender process was followed for contracts to run additional freight ferries in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Lord Grayling
These processes are described in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 7 January.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what Government support is available to ferry companies which may wish to operate ferries from Scottish ports to EU ports after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
HM Government has no immediate plans to offer additional government support to any ferry operators.