Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate the Government has made of the time it will take the typical import consignment or other relevant unit to clear the UK border from 1 January 2022.

The Government’s priority is to keep goods moving and avoid delays at the border. HMRC use a risk based and intelligence-led response to compliance issues working alongside Border Force.

There are a number of different customs checks which could take place, and the time required for a check will vary significantly based on:

• The type of check required;
• The nature of the import and the associated risk;
• The type and quantity of goods examined;
• The amount of time a trader or their agent takes to provide information at points in the process.