Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of progress in preparations for avoiding the introduction of Operation Stack on the M20; if he will make a statement.

Since 2015, improvements made to increase capacity at both Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover combined with better management and monitoring arrangements for Dover TAP (Traffic Assessment Project), which controls HGV traffic on the A20, have avoided the use of Stack on the M20. In addition, we are delivering an interim scheme on the M20 between junctions 8 and 9 to allow two way flow of traffic, even when the M20 needs to be utilised. Highways England and the Department for Transport have robust project and programme management processes in place for the delivery of this work, and both the Secretary of State and I receive regular updates. Work has started on the M20, and it is presently running to schedule. Highways England is confident this work will be completed in line with the agreed timescale, by March 2019.

Highways England have also been tasked with providing a long term solution to traffic delays caused by cross channel disruption and they are undergoing a public consultation which finishes on 22 July, progress on this is also going according to plan.