Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing further funding in port infrastructure following the Ports Infrastructure Fund.

Ports are commercial enterprises and would normally be expected to fund any infrastructure required to comply with legislation on border controls.

However, in recognition of the unique circumstances of EU Exit, the UK Government made £705 million of funding available to support border readiness.

This included the £200 million Port Infrastructure Fund which has been allocated; there are no plans to invite further applications.

Going forward, as commercial enterprises, it is for ports to make business decisions about which services they provide and how these are financed.