Chris Heaton-Harris: 81 Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) relating to Brexit Preparations, including those signed for commercial purposes, have been signed between DfT and its stakeholders between June 2016 and 22 August 2019. Government has listened to industry concerns that NDAs have hindered constructive debate and exchange of information, restricting industry’s ability to help their members prepare for...
Chris Heaton-Harris: Brexit related cases are ongoing and handled by a range of departments across Whitehall depending on the subject matter relating in part or in total to Brexit. The Government Legal Department (and the Office of the Advocate General for matters in Scotland) is responsible for billing departments as clients for litigation services. DExEU does not therefore hold an estimate of the totality of...
Chris Heaton-Harris: I thank the hon. Lady for her question, although the premise behind it is completely incorrect. Small businesses across the country are getting ready for a Brexit with a deal and a no-deal Brexit. She gives me the opportunity to highlight the partnership pack that is online for all businesses to look at, so that citizens, individuals and businesses, small and large, can prepare appropriately...
Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government is continuing to review the impact of any potential disruption to the flow of freight after Brexit. I have regular meetings with key stakeholders in industry to discuss a range of important topics. Ports and service providers are best placed to consider any potential impact on specific groups of employees and address any specific local concerns. In addition, the Government has...
Chris Heaton-Harris: In Question 2 the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (Chi Onwurah) told us how warehousing across the country was full to bursting point as businesses prepared for a no-deal Brexit. In a leaked letter last week, the Cabinet Secretary implied that business was not ready for a no-deal Brexit. Which is correct?
Chris Heaton-Harris: DfT supports MHCLG’s Brexit discussions with local authority leaders and local authority Chief Executives to outline its work on Brexit preparedness and to address transport queries. No meetings have taken place with Wirral Council, but DfT is directly engaging with Merseyside Local Resilience Forum, which includes emergency responders, councils and other public services.
Chris Heaton-Harris: DfT supports MHCLG’s Brexit discussions with local authority leaders and local authority Chief Executives to outline its work on Brexit preparedness and to address transport queries. No meetings have taken place with Bristol City Council, but DfT is directly engaging with Avon and Somerset Local Resilience Forum, which includes emergency responders, councils and other public services.
Chris Heaton-Harris: DfT supports MHCLG’s Brexit discussions with local authority leaders and local authority Chief Executives to outline its work on Brexit preparedness and to address transport queries. No meetings have taken place with Leeds City Council, but DfT is directing engaging with West Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which includes emergency responders, councils and other public services.
Chris Heaton-Harris: ...for reimbursement of the council’s capital works on local roads, provided that it can demonstrate that the works were undertaken to directly mitigate the potential traffic impacts of a no-deal Brexit. On the same day, DfT also announced a £10M Port Infrastructure Resilience and Connectivity (PIRC) fund with the intention of supporting Brexit resilience preparations at English ports....
Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department has worked extensively with our stakeholders across the transport sector to prepare for Brexit. In Kent our work with the Local Resilience Forum has helped deliver Operation Brock, the locally owned and activated plan that will manage traffic disruption in Kent We are conducting a comprehensive multi-channel campaign to improve trader readiness. We produced a Haulier Handbook...
Chris Heaton-Harris: ...for reimbursement of the council’s capital works on local roads, provided that it can demonstrate that the works were undertaken to directly mitigate the potential traffic impacts of a no-deal Brexit. This funding from DfT is in addition to funding for councils and LRFs provided by MHCLG to support their development of robust Brexit plans and continued preparedness activities.
Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department has been liaising with ports and local partners on Brexit preparedness, for some time. In Kent, along with Highways England and other partners, the Department has been working closely to develop Operation Brock, which is intended to provide the resilience and flexibility required to deal with any disruption to cross-Channel travel from Kent ports. As well as keeping freight...
Chris Heaton-Harris: ...for ports, Local Resilience Forums, and road & rail links. Financial support is provided for sixteen ports across England who will receive a share of funding to help their preparations for Brexit on 31 October and beyond. The successful bidders of the £10m Port Infrastructure Resilience and Connectivity (PIRC) competition offers ports up to £1m each to deliver important infrastructure...
Chris Heaton-Harris: It was announced on 26 September that sixteen ports across England will receive a share of a multimillion-pound funding pot to help their preparations for Brexit on 31 October and beyond. The successful bidders of the £10 million Port Infrastructure Resilience and Connectivity (PIRC) competition offers ports up to £1 million each to deliver important infrastructure upgrades to help keep...
Chris Heaton-Harris: ...to ensure hauliers are able to operate and trade can continue to move as freely as possible between the UK and Europe. Please note the, ‘Transporting goods between the UK and EU in a no-deal Brexit: guidance for hauliers’ has been published today and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/transporting-goods-between-the-u k-and-eu-in-a-no-deal-brexit-guidance-for-hauliers
Chris Heaton-Harris: ...of the House, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), who pointed out the logic of the position of so many of the Labour Members who spoke. Based on the shadow Brexit Secretary’s argument today, they should all be supporting the Prime Minister’s deal. If the Father of the House will forgive me, I am very glad that his amendment was not selected, because...
Chris Heaton-Harris: ...intent on delivering on it. I should answer a couple of the points raised in the debate. It is always a pleasure to hear the hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) telling us that we cannot cancel Brexit; in general, the Lib Dem policy is, “We can’t cancel it, so we’ll try any other means whatever, parliamentary or otherwise, of undermining that result.” Realistically, I struggle...
Chris Heaton-Harris: On 30 August, the Secretary of State for Transport announced the £10M Port Infrastructure Resilience and Connectivity (PIRC) fund with the intention of supporting Brexit resilience preparations at English ports. Portsmouth International Port will be eligible to apply for PIRC funding, and any bid will be subject to a competitive assessment process against applications from other ports.
Chris Heaton-Harris: DVSA have been allocated £20.34m for Brexit preparations since 2017/18.
Chris Heaton-Harris: On 30 August, the Secretary of State for Transport announced the £10M Port Infrastructure Resilience and Connectivity (PIRC) fund with the intention of supporting Brexit resilience preparations at English ports. Ports in the South West will be eligible to apply for PIRC funding, and any bid will be subject to a competitive assessment process against applications from other ports.