Major disruption at UK ports a ‘real prospect’
Major disruption at British ports is a “real prospect” if the UK exits the EU without a deal, according to a report. The House of Commons public accounts committee said there was a “real risk” the Department for Transport would not be ready for a nodeal scenario.
Meg Hillier, the Labour MP who chairs the cross-party group of MPS, said the risks were “severe”, but plans to avoid disruption around major ports “are worryingly under-developed”.
The committee accused offi- cials at the department of having a “complacent” approach to preparations and failing to communicate properly with businesses. The report said: “There is a real risk that the Department for Transport will not be ready in the event of the UK departing the EU without a negotiated deal and this risk is increasing as time runs out to deliver what is needed.”
Criticising plans for projects such as the 13-mile “lorry park” planned for the M20 to ease problems at ports on the South Coast, it added: “The slow progress and poor communication around work to avoid this through schemes such as Project Brock concerns us.”