Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of haulage capacity for food and drink businesses during the peak Christmas trading period, including the potential impact of increased demand from supermarkets and other retail sectors.

The Department for Transport has not undertaken a specific assessment of the availability of haulage capacity for food and drink businesses during the peak Christmas trading period, including the impact of increased demand from supermarkets and other retail sectors.

The Department for Transport regularly engages with road haulage businesses and trade associations to understand issues affecting the sector.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) also maintain engagement with industry across the food system to monitor resilience and supply chain pressures. They are acutely aware of peak seasonal pressures, for which industry plans well in advance, and maintains close engagement with industry throughout.