Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reopening Ramsgate Port to international (a) trade and (b) passenger transit on economic growth in (i) South East England, (ii) Kent and (iii) Thanet district.

New commercially viable freight-only or passenger-carrying services from ports have the potential to contribute positively to local, regional and national economies. The scale of impacts upon the economy and employment, upon other ports and upon congestion on the M20 and other roads, would depend on the nature, capacity and frequency of the service. Such a service could also contribute to national trade resilience overall.