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.

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.