Javid warns ‘no time to delay’ as no-deal planning ramped up

CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer Sajid Javid has warned there is “no time to delay” as the Government ramps up its no-deal plans.

HMRC will begin automatically enrolling businesses in a customs ID-system in an attempt to double the number which are currently registered.

More than 88,000 VAT-registered companies across the UK will be allocated an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number in the next two weeks in order to keep trading with customers and suppliers in the EU once the UK has left the EU.

If businesses do not have an EORI number post-Brexit, they will be unable to continue to trade with EU member states.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it will allocate £9m to councils to help ensure they are staffed to deal with any issues at ports.

Kent Council will be given over £2.6m out of the available funding due to the pressures it faces around the Port of Dover.

Mr Javid said: “As the Government accelerates its preparation to leave the EU on October 31, it’s right businesses are prepared too. There can be no time for delay which is why HMRC has allocated thousands of businesses with a trading number to ensure they can continue to trade their goods through Europe from day one.

“This will help ease the flow of goods at border points and support businesses to trade and grow.”

EORI numbers are a unique IDnumber allocated to businesses that enables them to be identified by customs authorities when doing business with other traders.