Electronic Commerce

(asked on 25th February 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect on the strength of UK e-commerce of extended delivery times for goods bought online in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.


Answered by
Kelly Tolhurst Portrait
Kelly Tolhurst
This question was answered on 28th February 2019

The Government is fully engaged with the retail sector through the Retail Sector Council and the EU Exit retail panel, which both have e-commerce businesses as members.

Through the EU Exit panel, we have regular discussions with retailers and e-commerce businesses to understand their concerns about no-deal. Recent meetings have included discussions on business readiness, the e-commerce directive and border readiness plans, all of which have implications for e-commerce businesses and goods bought online.

Delivering the deal negotiated with the EU remains the Government’s top priority, but as a responsible Government we are taking the appropriate steps to ensure the country is prepared for all scenarios and will work to as much as possible minimise disruption to our global trading relationships so that the retail sector can continue its valuable contribution our economy and society.

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