Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what provisions exist within the contracts for freight capacity signed by his Department on 11 October 2019 for changes to the date of the UK’s departure from the EU.

It remains the Government’s clearly stated ambition to leave the EU on 31 October. However, if we leave with the deal and it is determined that the Government-secured freight capacity is not needed from 31 October, contracts would be terminated. The freight capacity framework is designed to cover a 4 year period and allow Government to draw down capacity to deal with issues beyond Brexit, for example, any repetition of the disruption associated with the industrial action taken by MyFerryLink workers in 2015.