Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2021 to Question 140757, if the Government will publish the official text that was included in the UK’s proposed exemption for specialist hauliers to new limits on movements in the EU.

The Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) between the UK and the EU allows UK hauliers to undertake up to 2 additional laden journeys within the EU after a laden international journey from the UK, with a maximum of 1 cabotage movement outside Ireland. These rules will also apply to specialist hauliers, such as hauliers who carry equipment for musicians and other performers.

Our assessment is that the TCA will allow for the vast majority of haulage operations that were being undertaken by UK hauliers before the end of the transition period. However, UK operators will not be allowed to undertake more than 2 movements within the EU before returning to the UK. This limitation also applies to movements of goods covered by an ATA carnet. This issue was discussed in detail as part of the negotiations, including specific proposals for liberalised access for certain specialist transport sectors, but the EU was unwilling to agree more flexible arrangements. Unfortunately, we are not able to release the full content of the negotiation papers.

The Department for Transport is in regular contact with the road haulage industry and is working closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to support the creative industries sector.