Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Lilian Greenwood Excerpts
Thursday 10th January 2019

(5 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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That is absolutely correct. In very many international trading scenarios using the common transit convention, customs processes can be at the start and the end of the journey. That is one reason why I felt able to say to the House earlier this week that I was confident that, in all circumstances, trade would continue to move relatively freely.

Lilian Greenwood Portrait Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)
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It has been reported that the Secretary of State’s Department is in talks with two rail freight companies about options to provide additional services via the channel tunnel and High Speed 1 to ensure supplies of food and medicines in the event of blockages at Kent ports. It is also claimed that the Department has written to Southeastern trains warning of possible disruption to its services if additional daytime freight movements are required. Is his Department really contemplating emergency rail timetables in the event of a no-deal Brexit? Has he written to Southeastern regarding such contingency plans? Should the many thousands of rail commuters in Kent be bracing themselves for possible disruption?

Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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No. The story is untrue.