Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve cabotage arrangements for UK musicians touring in the EU.

The dual registration measure came into force in July 2022 to enable eligible specialist events hauliers to transfer their vehicles temporarily between their two operator licences without needing to change vehicle mid-tour.

The measure allows specialist hauliers to undertake journeys in GB on the basis of their GB operator licence and to do the same in the other location on the basis of their EU Community Licence or other third country operator licence. This means specialist events hauliers using the measure benefit by not having their journeys limited by cabotage rules that apply to international operators within each territory, when touring for cultural events.

The Department understands that seven operators – which have an operating base in GB and in the EU or other third country – are currently making use of this measure.