People will be able to buy toys at Christmas despite concerns over stock shortages and price rises, a government minister has said.
Co-chairman of the Conservative Party Oliver Dowden insisted the government was 'working through' supply chain issues caused by a shortage of lorry drivers amid a build-up of cargo at UK ports.
On Tuesday, it emerged shipping giant Maersk was diverting vessels away from Felixstowe, the UK's biggest commercial shipping port, and re-routing them to elsewhere in Europe before using smaller vessels to finally get deliveries to the UK.
READ MORE:
Peter Wilson, managing director at Cory Brothers shipping agency, said problems affecting shipping and transport were a global issue but added the UK has a 'significant pinch point around HGV drivers and the demand on them to move goods from the ports'.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: "That’s a really significant issue for us here in the UK."
Asked if it will affect Christmas, he said it has the 'potential', but stressed that the supply chain 'will not fail in the UK', adding that consumers should 'be sensible, think ahead, plan appropriately, and order your Christmas goods and the items that you need in a timely fashion to ensure that you have them'.
Mr Wilson said there is a potential that some items may not be available nearer to Christmas, and when asked what items are most at risk of that, he said: "It’s a real mix. We import so much into the UK by container on these shipping lines, so it’s from white goods to your Christmas toys, and we include food goods with this as well, so it could be a real mixed bag of all items.
"But I think you know, Christmas, the toys, the goods will be the significant big selling point as we build up to Christmas and I think that’s where we’re going to get pinch points."
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Dowden said the government was addressing the 'challenging problem', but he was 'confident' people would be able to get toys this Christmas.
"We’re working through these challenges to address them," he said.
“The government is very much seized of these challenges and is getting on with the job of addressing them… We need to get the skills here, have those higher-paid jobs," he added.
Asked about potential Christmas shortages, he said: "The situation is improving, I’m confident that people will be able to get their toys for Christmas. Some buy people buy very early for Christmas, my wife is quite an early Christmas buyer, others buy later. I would say just buy as you do normally."
Asked if Father Christmas would visit, Mr Dowden said: "Yes, I have children myself and they can be (comfortable) on that front."
However, one toy shop owner in Devon has warned consumers to expect stock shortages and price rises this Christmas.
Robert Gliddon, the owner of Gliddons Toy Shop in Sidmouth, said: "It’s not just shortages, you’ve got to face the reality of price rises, anything from 10 per cent to 15 per cent on anything from across the seas."
He advised consumers: "If you see it, buy it, and be prepared to pay more before Christmas.”
The British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) said it expects supply chain disruption to continue "over the coming months", but that retailers are working hard to ensure toys are available.
A spokesperson for the BTHA said: “Nobody wants to face shortages for things they need or are seeking but we are facing shortages in some form in various ways presently.
"The toy sector is not alone in facing huge global and local supply challenges at the current time.
"A combination of restricted transport options and availability and higher transportation costs face our sector like many others. We understand people are concerned about shortages and it is a concern we share – we expect continued disruption to delivery schedules in varying degrees over the coming months.
"Toy manufacturers are working around the clock to face down this unwelcome vortex of logistical challenges to try to ensure their toys arrive and provide the range of choice consumers seek each autumn/winter and that companies wish to provide."
The spokesperson added: "There are plenty of toys to choose from presently but in common with other sectors’ advice, buying early – especially if buying for a Christmas or a birthday present – is prudent."
Tim Morris, chief executive officer of the UK Major Ports Group, said that trade ports had become 'the jam in the sandwich between surging, volatile shipping and UK supply chains badly impacted by factors such as HGV driver shortages'.
He said: "Ports have taken significant action to respond to the challenges and build resilience.
"They have extended gate opening to 24/7, increased capacity for trucks at peak hours, sought to maximise rail freight usage within the significant constraints of the network, created additional storage space and recruited more people.
"But the pressures are being exacerbated by well-publicised issues impacting all UK supply chains, notably shortages of HGV drivers.
"Ports therefore have to manage access to storage space very dynamically in extreme situations. This can mean some very limited short-term restrictions.
"Ports are committed to working closely with customers and entire supply chains to keep goods moving."
Mr Dowden said the government would not be 'setting arbitrary targets' to address the lorry driver crisis.
Asked how far the government will have got in addressing the shortage of 100,000 HGV drivers by Christmas, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "We’re not in the business of setting arbitrary targets.
"What I can assure you is that the government is straining every sinew and the government is committed to making sure we increase HGV driver capacity through a whole range of different measures.
"It is already increasing the supply of HGV drivers, we’re seeing welcome progress in terms of HGV fuel drivers, the situation in most parts of the UK is easing.
"This is a challenging situation, it’s not just unique to the UK."
