Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with HMRC on the capacity of its customs computer system for plant and animal imports to process potential increased volumes of applications after the UK leaves the EU.
Defra has an extensive programme of work focused on preparing for a range of scenarios to make sure we are ready for the point when the UK leaves the EU. Ministers and officials regularly liaise with colleagues across Government including with HMRC. This includes discussions on the UK’s systems for the management of trade in animal and plant materials. The precise nature of our future relationship with the EU is still to be determined and is the subject of negotiation.