Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of costs for the haulage industry.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Department for Transport regularly engages with road haulage industry associations and wider industry to understand the financial challenges faced by the sector.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of cost pressures for the haulage industry, ahead of the Budget.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the key role the haulage sector plays in the UK economy and regularly engages with its representatives.
At Budget 2025, the Government announced continued support for people and businesses by extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of August 2026. Rates will then gradually return to previous levels. The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026-27 will not take place, with the government uprating fuel duty rates by RPI from April 2027. This will save the average HGV driver £843 next year compared to previous plans.
From 1 April 2026, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) standard rates for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and HGV levy rates will be uprated by RPI for 2026-27. Hauliers will not see a real-terms increase in VED or HGV levy liabilities, as rates have increased to keep pace with inflation only.
The Government considers the impact of motoring taxes on the economy, including households and businesses, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of rail infrastructure funding on future trends in the level of regional economic growth.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The growth mission is the central mission of this government. The impact of rail infrastructure investment on regional economic growth is a key consideration that is informing decisions for phase 2 of the Spending Review. The first phase of the Spending Review delivered a £1.1bn cash increase to the transport budget in 2025-26 compared to 2024-25 representing 1.5% real terms growth, delivering record spending.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her speech at Siemens Healthineers in Oxfordshire on 29 January 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of allocating additional funding to improve connectivity in Oxfordshire.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
We are already making considerable investment in transport infrastructure in Oxfordshire, including support for East West Rail and the acceleration of works on the Marston Vale Line to deliver services between Oxford and Bedford, as well as £10m in 25/26 to provide improvements to local bus services. In addition, Oxfordshire County Council received £33.5m of total highway maintenance allocations for the County for 2025/26.
Future transport spending is subject to Phase 2 of the SR and will be considered in the round through that process.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a Food Production Relief Scheme to provide targeted relief on (a) energy costs and (b) business rates for essential food producers.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This Government has a cast iron commitment to food production. We have committed £5 billion over this year and next to the farming and countryside programme which includes the largest ever amount for sustainable food production. We have also committed to deliver an ambitious food strategy which will set and deliver clear long-term outcomes for a healthier, fairer and more resilient food system.
In regards to business rates, the Government published the ‘Transforming Business Rates’ Discussion Paper at Budget setting out priority areas for reform. This paper invites industry to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. We are accepting written submissions, which will inform policy development, to the transformingbusinessrates@hmtreasury.gov.uk mailbox until 31 March 2025.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to support food manufacturing sites with (a) energy costs and (b) business rates.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This Government has a cast iron commitment to food production. We have committed £5 billion over this year and next to the farming and countryside programme which includes the largest ever amount for sustainable food production. We have also committed to deliver an ambitious food strategy which will set and deliver clear long-term outcomes for a healthier, fairer and more resilient food system.
In regards to business rates, the Government published the ‘Transforming Business Rates’ Discussion Paper at Budget setting out priority areas for reform. This paper invites industry to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. We are accepting written submissions, which will inform policy development, to the transformingbusinessrates@hmtreasury.gov.uk mailbox until 31 March 2025.