Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the number of road haulage businesses that entered insolvency in 2023; and whether he plans to take fiscal steps to help support the road haulage sector in the next 5 years.

The Government acknowledges the pressures the industry has faced in recent years and has taken decisive action to support the sector. This has included 33 measures in response to the driver shortage including significant investment in HGV Skills Bootcamps and on driver welfare facilities and lorry parking.

Additionally, at Autumn Statement 2023 the Government announced that it is continuing its support for haulage companies by freezing HGV Vehicle Excise Duty and the HGV Levy in 2024-25. This results in a tax saving for one of the most popular HGVs (a 38-44 tonne Artic lorry with 3 axles, EURO VI) of a total of £47 per annum. These measures form a package of support for hauliers, alongside the freezing of Fuel Duty as announced at Spring Budget 2023.

Like all taxes, the Government keeps HGV Vehicle Excise Duty and the HGV Levy under review.