Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Lewer Excerpts

Thursday 5th September 2019 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Barclay]

As I said, we have not only put in place an additional procurement framework in terms of capacity, but we have procured an express freight service to deliver small consignments on a 24-hour basis, and a two-to-four day pallet-delivery service. These issues are being addressed by the Department and a huge amount of work is going on exactly on that issue.

[Andrew Lewer (Northampton South) (Con)]

6. What recent discussions he has had with business groups to help ensure that they are prepared to leave the EU on 31 October 2019.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (James Duddridge)]

Since joining the Department on 27 July, I have personally met more than 20 business organisations. Since July 2016, Department for Exiting the European Union Ministers have collectively undertaken over 700 meetings with businesses and business organisations from every sector in the economy.

[Andrew Lewer]

Northamptonshire is one of the most important logistics hubs in the UK, so what steps are the Department taking to make sure that those firms and businesses are up and ready to deal with a possible no-deal Brexit?

[James Duddridge]

That is a very sensible question. The Department has engaged extensively with logistics companies and representative bodies from across the sector to ensure that they are prepared for 31 October. I encourage my hon. Friend and businesses to consult the public information campaign on gov.uk to get a practical, step-by-step guide on what is required for business. That is a powerful thing to do—it is the right thing to do—in preparing to leave properly on 31 October.