Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to end Operation Stack; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect of that operation on the UK balance of trade.

Operation Stack is the appropriate contingency arrangement to put in place when there is disruption to cross-channel traffic and is led by the Kent Police. It remains a last, not first, resort. The Department has not made any assessment of the effect of Operation Stack on the UK balance of trade, as any impact stems from the disruption to services – which this Government is determined to see resolved as soon as possible.

European Gateway Group is reviewing short and longer term solutions to traffic management in Kent, including Operation Stack, and will report back to the Department. When this review is completed the Department will analyse their findings and decide how to respond to their recommendations.