As fears grow that post-Brexit changes to custom rules could bring 7,000-strong lorry queues to Kent Michael Gove will address parliament about the government's preparations.

The Cabinet minister is due to outline the government's preparation work in the House of Commons in the coming hours.

It follows accusations by sector chiefs that the country's leaders have failed to do enough in recent weeks over the threat of post-Brexit border delays - namely that the government is not engaging with the industry.

Mr Gove had written to logistics groups with the government’s “reasonable worst-case scenario” planning, which warns of possible two-day delays for cargo travelling via Dover to France in January.

The leaked document states that between 30-50% of trucks crossing the Channel will not be ready for the new regulations coming into force on January 1.

It also states that a “lack of capacity to hold unready trucks at French ports” could reduce the flow of traffic across the strait to 60-80% of normal levels.

Such delays could be in place for at least three months, hauliers have been warned, as alternative routes are sought and supply chains get to grips with the new systems and requirements.

In his letter, Mr Gove said: “Irrespective of the outcome of negotiations between the UK and EU, traders will face new customs controls and processes.

“Simply put, if traders, both in the UK and EU, have not completed the right paperwork, their goods will be stopped when entering the EU and disruption will occur. It is essential that traders act now and get ready for new formalities.”

As previously reported a huge lorry park is being built at Ashford while the county's biggest Covid-19 testing centre was recently closed to make way for a possible customs check point.

RHA chief executive Richard Burnett says the government is not engaging with the industry.

Responding to the worst-case scenario document, he said: “We’ve been consistently warning the government that there will be delays at ports but they’re just not engaging with industry on coming up with solutions.

“Traders need 50,000 more customs intermediaries to handle the mountain of new paperwork after transition but government support to recruit and train those extra people is woefully inadequate.

“The answers to the questions that we raised in our letter to Mr Gove and subsequent roundtable meeting last Thursday still remain unanswered – and our concern continues to grow.”

A UK Government spokesman said: “With just 100 days to go until the end of the transition period it’s vital that businesses prepare now for new rules that will come into force at the end of the year, so that they can hit the ground running on January 1 2021 and seize new opportunities.

“As a responsible Government we continue to make extensive preparations for a wide range of scenarios, including the reasonable worst case.

“This is not a forecast or prediction of what will happen but rather a stretching scenario.”

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