Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will publish the (a) average amount of time it took for consignments of (i) food and (ii) agricultural products to clear customs in the latest period for which information is available and (b) Government's estimate of the average amount of time it will take for those consignments to clear customs under the Border Target Operating Model.

This information is not held by the Department for Business and Trade.

A number of factors impact clearance times at the border. They will vary depending on the type of food or agricultural product being imported, the port of entry and the mode of transport. Under the risk-based approach to controls set out in the Border Target Operating Model many food and agricultural imports will not require checks at ports ensuring they can leave the port without delay.