Fareham MP Suella Braverman has visited Portsmouth International Port to meet with officials to discuss contingency planning ahead of the UK leaving the EU on the 29th March.
If the UK agrees a deal with the EU before its departure, then the UK will remain in the Single Market and the Customs Union until the end of 2020. This means goods arriving in Portsmouth from the EU will continue to flow freely without extra customs checks.
Concerns have been raised by Portsmouth International Port that a no-deal scenario could cause delays on the local road network, and during the visit Mrs Braverman was briefed by Port Director Mike Sellers and Leader of Portsmouth City Council Gerald Vernon Jackson about these matters and associated contingency planning.
However, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has reassured local MPs and authorities that procedures will be in place to make sure that goods and lorries flow freely through ports, and the Government has been working with ports all over the country to make appropriate plans. The Government has also granted Portsmouth City Council £300,000 for Brexit contingency planning.
During her visit, Mrs Braverman was shown around the port and the process for how goods are loaded on to and off of ships, as well as how goods are processed and transported around the port.
Commenting on her visit, Suella Braverman MP said:
“I was very pleased to visit Portsmouth International Port and hear about the plans being implemented for Brexit. I’m very confident that the port will work just as effectively after Brexit as it does now and that goods will flow freely in and out of the city.
“Leaving the EU and pursuing greater free trade around the globe will bring huge opportunities for Portsmouth International Port and I look forward to seeing it go from strength to strength in the coming years.”
