Christmas ‘will go ahead’ – Transport Secretary

MEASURES introduced to tackle supply chain problems mean “Christmas will go ahead”, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, right, has insisted.

The Cabinet minister claimed steps to ease the flow of goods in the UK “are having an impact”.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced plans to lift the limit on the number of deliveries foreign lorry drivers can make in the UK for up to six months.

Currently, hauliers from the EU can only make up to two trips to drop off or pick up goods between locations in the UK within one week. Under the DfT proposal, there would be no restriction on the number of those journeys foreign lorry drivers can make over a twoweek period before they return to their country of origin.

Mr Shapps told Times Radio: “Christmas will go ahead. We’ll be able to see our friends and families. There will be food, there will be gifts. I do know that the entire world has a squeeze on its supply chain. That’s because we’re all coming out of this very long period of coronavirus, and the UK economy, perhaps particularly because we’ve got an expanding economy, the fastest-growing in the G7, means that there are particular stresses and strains.

“But we’re taking a whole range of measures, including one that I’m announcing today about the way that lorry drivers from abroad pick up and drop things off, the so-called cabotage rules. And, under our changes, that will mean that they can, in an unlimited way by Christmas, pick up and drop off goods within this country within a 14-day period.”