Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what (a) discussions she has had with and (b) representations she has received from the maritime industry on the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on (i) imports and (ii) exports.

This Department is working closely with the maritime industry, including regular contact with the umbrella organisation for the sector; ‘Maritime UK’. We have heard directly from the sector the effect of the pandemic on their ability to trade.

In addition to the Government’s overall package of support for business, on 24 April, we announced an unprecedented package of measures supporting 31 critical freight routes between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and mainland Europe: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-package-to-protect-ferry-freight-routes. These measures will support maritime companies to continue to trade globally. We continue to engage with the sector to hear their views.