Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of implementing Operation Brock on the (a) UK economy, (b) economy in Kent and (c) the financial viability of the road haulage industry; and if he will make a statement.

The Department for Transport, Highways England and local partners developed Operation Brock to keep Kent’s road network moving in the event of disruption on the Channel Straits.

The cost of disruption to residents, businesses and the local community can be substantial primarily reflecting the economic cost of goods being unable to cross the border.

Operation Brock consists of three phases: a contraflow queuing system on the M20, holding areas at Manston Airport and, if necessary, on the M26. These measures are intended to provide the resilience and flexibility required to deal with any disruption to cross-Channel travel from Kent ports from March 2019 and beyond. Keeping key strategic roads open in Kent will help minimise the cost of disruption to the UK economy, local community and road haulage industry.

The road haulage industry and local stakeholders have been fully engaged in discussions with the Department for Transport.