Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of transit charges on commercial vessels using international waterways on (a) UK importers and exporters and (b) supply chain costs.

The Government is closely monitoring the impact of disruptions to key shipping routes.

This includes regularly assessing the impact on UK supply chains, disruption to trade, including any rerouting of container ships, and of increases in prices of critical goods, shipping and energy. In doing so, we are actively drawing input from businesses on supply chain pressures and their own contingency planning to understand impacts on UK imports, exports and subsequent supply chain costs.

We also continue to work with businesses and our international partners to protect trade and investment for all those using international waterways.