Logistics UK gives evidence to Treasury Select Committee on UK-EU trade

She answered questions on a broad range of topics, ranging from the launch of the government’s new Goods Vehicle Movement System (GVMS) and Kent Access Permit system to issues faced by the Scottish fishing industry, Northern Ireland trade, as well as what HGV drivers should pack in their lunch box!

On the GVMS, Elizabeth de Jong said that Logistics UK’s Member Advice Centre had not received many concerns about its technical resilience. The concerns had more been about difficulties understanding the end-to-end process, including the paperwork that transport operators need to produce. Further government guidance was needed, particularly for hauliers carrying goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where receiving an end-to-end operating manual, instead of receiving information in piecemeal fashion, would have made all the  difference. “We’re needing to get more guidance published at pace all the time at the moment to help trade flow,” she said.

On the Kent Access Permit, Elizabeth de Jong suspected it was working quite well in terms of encouraging hauliers to prepare their paperwork for crossing the border. However, despite the lack of queues she said the number of hauliers without a valid negative COVID test result remained a concern.

“We’re not having queues in Kent at the moment because of much lower than expected flows,” she said, “but we do have other issues in Kent. Currently, the biggest reason for not being able to make a crossing, is not having a negative COVID test and being sent away to get one.”

*www.logistics.org.uk/brexit

Published On: 14/01/2021 17:00:52

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