Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Common User Charge on (1) groupage and mixed loads entering the UK, and (2) small and medium-sized businesses.

Defra is committed to designing and delivering a charging policy which keeps costs down and minimises impact across all businesses. Through the ‘Charging arrangement at government-run border control posts’ consultation with industry in July 2023, the Government sought feedback on the impacts of the Common User Charge proposals on businesses of all sizes and operating models. It has taken on board all feedback and considered all possible options and timescales to ensure it can implement a charging system that will deliver best value for all traders, and one which meets government’s cost recovery objectives in as transparent and fair way as possible. We expect to publish the Government Response to the consultation shortly which will confirm the final policy and rates.