Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department plans to publish a national strategy for inland waterborne freight.

Domestic shipping routes are an important part of the UK maritime sector and wider economy. Such routes accounted for 70.1 million tonnes of freight moved in 2025. Moving freight in this way can be environmentally beneficial and improve inland transport efficiency. We support the shift towards greater use of waterborne freight, and Government is undertaking a comprehensive review of waterborne freight.

While Government currently has no plans to publish a national strategy for inland waterborne freight, this review will explore the potential for waterborne freight growth and review the barriers blocking it.