Three senior British Ministers have travelled to the Port of Dover to meet representatives from the haulage and freight industries to discuss plans for the UK's planned Brexit date of 31 October, by which new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has pledged the country will leave the European Union (EU).
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, Home Secretary, Priti Patel and Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, visited Dover, which is Europe's busiest ferry port, to evaluate plans to ensure traffic continues to flow smoothly after Brexit.
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They also met Border Force officers to talk about the steps already taken to maintain both security and the flow of goods and people at ports across the UK, including training more than 5,500 officers for Brexit.
"Making sure we are ready to leave the European Union on October 31 is my top priority," said Gove. "That is why we have stepped up our preparations across government."
As part of its preparations for the UK's departure from the EU, the Border Force is currently recruiting up to 1,000 new officers to help maintain security and support flows at the border.
The Port of Dover is used by 120 ferries and 90,000 passengers each day, as well as handling more lorries than all other UK ports combined.
"The UK will be leaving the EU on October 31 and we will be prepared whatever the circumstances," added Shapps.
"From port infrastructure works to the people working within them, we have set aside millions of pounds so goods and transport will continue to move in a no-deal scenario."
As well as meeting business leaders and port officials during their visit, the Ministers also met representatives from local government to discuss measures being put in place to make sure the area is ready for 31 October.
Despite the Ministers' optimism, Britain's Road Haulage Association (RHA) says the government still faces a "huge challenge" to prepare business in time should the UK exit the EU with no deal.
RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett said action from the government is welcome but warned it will be a tall order to make businesses ready as well as new border staff recruited and trained in time for the Halloween deadline.
"This is big picture and what we badly need is detail," said Burnett. "We need a complete, practical how-to guide to ensure traders know what they have to do to get across the borders after Brexit."
Separately, Britain's Freight Transport Association (FTA) has criticised the UK Treasury's potential doubling of no-deal Brexit funding for this year as a "damp squib," while debate rages as to the country's preparedness in the event of no agreement being found.
Boris Johnson has maintained the UK will leave on 31 October, 'do or die.'
