Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what forecast they have made of the logistics infrastructure investment required over the next 30 years to support (1) UK business growth, (2) freight transport capacity growth, (3) freight transport decarbonisation, and (4) communities.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has not made an economy wide needs assessment for logistics infrastructure, such as warehouse and freight interchanges. The current and forecast needs of the road and rail freight sectors inform the prioritisation and delivery of the Roads Investment Strategy (RIS) and the Rail Network Enhancements Programme (RNEP).
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the UK’s freight transport capacity of decisions to delay (1) HS2, and (2) the third road investment strategy (RIS3), construction.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
HS2 will release capacity on the West Coast Main Line which will be used for additional local and regional passenger trains and freight. No decisions have been made as to exactly what trains will run and work is ongoing to develop the optimal service pattern which best meets the needs of passengers and freight customers. Rephasing of HS2 will be taken account of in this work as it develops. HS2 has not been delayed in terms of Phase 1 and Phase 2b to Manchester.
The Government has not undertaken an assessment of the impact on freight of the delivery of schemes being developed in the Roads Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) pipeline in RIS4. This is because those schemes were not committed nor fully developed. The Government has announced that two RIS2 schemes - A27 Arundel and A5036 Princess Way in Liverpool – will be deferred. In addition, construction of Lower Thames Crossing will be slowed down by two years to ensure that there is an effective and deliverable plan.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the measures in place to coordinate infrastructure, planning and energy policies, nationally and locally, to support the delivery of a National Freight Network.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
In “Future of freight: a long-term plan” (Future of Freight) published in June 2022, the Government recognised planning, energy infrastructure and undertaking the work necessary to identify a National Freight Network as areas requiring priority action. This work is underway. The Government will shortly publish a call for evidence to obtain the appropriate evidence so that the planning needs of the freight and logistics sector can be properly and effectively considered. To support the delivery of zero carbon energy infrastructure the Future of Freight prioritised the creation of a Freight Energy Forum. This forum, comprising stakeholders from the freight, energy, regulatory and government sectors met in April 2023 and will prioritise the development of a Zero Emission HGV Infrastructure Strategy. The Government will work with the Freight Council to support work to identify a National Freight Network.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made on the delivery of a National Freight Network; when they will publish their response to the Union Connectivity Review; and what consequence their response will have for the National Freight Network.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
In “Future of freight: a long-term plan” published in June 2022, the Government announced that, with the Freight Council, it would undertake the work necessary to identify a National Freight Network by developing a fuller understanding of the domestic freight network across road, rail, maritime, aviation, inland waterway and warehouse and distribution infrastructure. This work is underway and will be the subject of engagement with stakeholders in due course.
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill’s independent Union Connectivity Review, published in November 2021, considered transport connectivity across the UK. Considering the scale and breadth of the review, we are taking the time necessary to consider Lord Hendy’s recommendations and engage with the devolved administrations. We will publish our response as soon as is practicable. The development of the National Freight Network project takes account of Lord Hendy’s recommendations and will align with the Government’s upcoming response.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what forecast they have made of the energy infrastructure investment required over the next 30 years to support freight transport and decarbonisation.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Through the Freight Energy Forum – a commitment in the Future of freight: a long-term plan (June 2022) - the Department will work with stakeholders from the freight and energy sectors to understand the infrastructure requirements across the freight system and to develop a specific Zero Emission HGV Infrastructure Strategy. The Strategy will ensure the delivery of the recharging and refuelling infrastructure required to meet the 2035 and 2040 phase out dates for non-zero emission HGVs. The Strategy will complement the zero- emission road freight demonstrator (ZERFD) programme. ZERFD will demonstrate multiple zero emission HGV technologies at scale on UK roads to identify how they can each best be used to decarbonise the heaviest HGVs. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles is working with fleets and industry bodies, such as the EV Fleet Accelerator and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, to understand the diverse charging requirements of fleets and how these can be factored into local planning and strategies.
Energy network operators are responsible for ensuring future demand can be met and they are incentivised to do so through the regulatory framework set out by Ofgem, the independent regulator. Since 1 April 2023 Ofgem has decided to socialise all the distribution network reinforcement costs for demand connections and to socialise a greater proportion of these costs for generation connections.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to restore the Stansted Express to four trains per hour in line with increasing passenger numbers at Stansted Airport.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Greater Anglia continues to carefully monitor passenger numbers and is making targeted adjustments to services as required. At present, new trains on the Stansted service are providing sufficient capacity throughout the day. Looking forwards, if there is sufficient demand and an overall positive financial case for further services then the Government would expect Greater Anglia to look at how best to respond to that situation.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to secure Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) development in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will have a key role in driving down carbon emissions in the UK aviation sector and the Government is fully committed to accelerating its development. The UK Government’s SAF programme is already one of the most comprehensive in the world. This includes £62m of previous funding made available to support the early development of SAF revenue support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, and the development of a SAF clearing house for fuel testing and certification. On top of this, last year the Government announced a £400m partnership with Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, which will allow SAF projects to apply for further capital funding.
Last week the Government announced that it will introduce a SAF mandate. By prescribing mandatory SAF use, we will generate secure and growing UK SAF demand. The SAF mandate will require at least 10% (c1.5bn litres) of fuel to be made from sustainable sources from 2030.
Alongside this announcement, the Government launched the £165 million Advanced Fuels Fund to drive our new commitment to have at least five commercial SAF plants under construction in the UK by 2025. Building on the success of the previous competitions, the grant funding will support projects looking to develop large scale advanced fuel production facilities in the UK.
The Government also continues to work in partnership with industry and investors to build long term supply. We’re actively looking at how to create the long-term conditions for investable projects in the UK, by demonstrating technology that works at scale, ensuring demand via the mandate, looking at an overarching strategy for sustainable feedstocks and sources and considering what further measures might be needed, from both industry and government.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the continued resilience of UK airports for both (1) passengers, and (2) freight operators.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We have been extensively engaging with industry at both ministerial and official level since the beginning of the year. During these meetings we have been clear that the volume delays and late notice cancellations are unacceptable, and airlines must have realistic schedules they can deliver.
On 30 June, the Secretary of State announced 22 measures the Government is taking to support the aviation industry, including: to help recruit and train staff; ensure the delivery of a realistic summer schedule through a slots amnesty; minimise disruption; and support passengers when delays and cancellations are unavoidable. We are now clear that industry needs to manage their operations effectively.
The Aviation Minister is also chairing a Strategic Risk Group which meets weekly to bring together senior executives from across the sector to highlight issues, assess mitigations, and encourage collaborative working.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether additional access will be provided to freight operators to support UK businesses trade internationally.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Access for EU and UK freight operators to one another’s markets is governed by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) There are no restrictions on freight movements between the UK and EU. Once an international laden journey has been completed, a UK operator can make two freight movements in a 7 day period within the EU, one of which may be within a single EU country. EU operators can make up to two movements in a 7 day period in the UK following an international laden journey.
The Government has no plans to renegotiate the TCA at this time.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the (1) procedure, and (2) protocol, for the temporary export of classic cars to (a) Hungary, and (b) the rest of the EU, for (i) repair, and (ii) return, to the UK.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There is no requirement to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) that a vehicle has been temporarily exported. All UK-registered vehicles must either remain registered or the keeper must only notify the DVLA if it has been permanently exported.
A UK-registered vehicle can be driven to Hungary or an EU member state and used in that country for up to six months in any 12-month period. The vehicle must remain properly registered and licensed in the UK and have a valid MoT (if needed).
If a vehicle is to be permanently exported, the vehicle keeper must complete the ‘export’ section of the vehicle registration certificate (V5C) and return it to the DVLA. The vehicle record will then be amended to show that the vehicle has been permanently exported. The remaining part of the V5C will need to be retained and provided to the relevant vehicle registration authority as required.
The keeper of a vehicle which is registered in the UK and is significantly restored or rebuilt should notify the DVLA. An inspection of the vehicle or other evidence may be required to ensure the vehicle register is updated where necessary.