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 ability to trial innovative logistics vehicles in the UK of the UK’s current planning and regulatory systems.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Government has facilitated and will continue to facilitate the trial of innovation in logistics, including innovative logistics vehicles.
The Zero Emission Road Freight Demonstrator (ZERFD) programme will demonstrate hundreds of zero emission HGVs across multiple technologies, alongside their associated refuelling and recharging infrastructure, on UK roads over the coming years. It will identify how each technology can best be used to decarbonise the heaviest HGVs.
The Government conducted an extensive trial of longer semi-trailer HGVs. This trial demonstrated that these vehicles, which are often built in the UK, can be used safely and provide significant benefits in improving efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) (Amendment) Order 2023 has been laid to enter into force on 31st May 2023 to enable these vehicles to be used outside the trial, their use having been proven in the trial.
On a smaller scale the Government has recently awarded nine SMEs Freight Innovation Fund grants to trial innovative freight solutions to support decarbonisation. The successful SMEs have partnered with larger businesses to run trials at scale and include drone delivery of mail in the Orkneys and e-cargo bikes in London. The £7m Freight Innovation Fund will run for three years, concluding in 2025. The Government will evaluate the effectiveness of the fund before taking any decisions on any successor programme.
Trials of innovative logistics vehicles have continued in the UK irrespective of any delay to legislation.
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 of the quality of roads maintenance on (1) the logistics network’s efficiency, (2) the logistics network’s emissions, (3) the efficiency and productivity of UK businesses, and (4) the UK’s trade capacity.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
On the Strategic Road Network, the needs of freight and logistics and its customers is considered by National Highways as it prioritises, plans, communicates, and delivers maintenance and renewals on the network. This includes establishing the optimal time to undertake work to minimize the disruption to road users of work on the network and provide corridor-level resilience.
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
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: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made any assessment of the potential merits of issuing a 15p per litre rebate on fuel duty for (a) road freight, (b) coach and (c) logistics operators.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
At Spring Statement 2022, in response to high fuel prices, the Government introduced a temporary 12-month cut to duty on petrol and diesel of 5p per litre.
This represents a tax cut worth around £2.4 billion in 2022-23, benefiting anyone who consumes fuel across the UK – including the road haulage, logistics and coach sectors. As a result, the average haulier will save £1500 in 2022-23 on average.
All taxes remain under review and the Chancellor will confirm policy in the Budget, as was the case in previous years.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in London on (a) freight and logistics businesses based outside of London, (b) businesses based outside of London and (c) commuters based outside of London who drive into London.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and this includes decisions on road schemes which charge users including the Ultra-Low EmissionZone(ULEZ).
It is for the Mayor to determine the impact on all people and firms that do business in the capital, wherever they are based. This includes the impact on freight and logistics businesses, other businesses, and commuters who need to drive into Greater London as part of his impact assessment on the expansion
ULEZ expansion was not the Government’s decision and the Mayor had no legal obligation to consult local or central Government.
As a scheme that applies in London, this is the Mayor’s decision, and he is accountable for the impact of it.
The Government have been clear that grant funding, via the longer-term funding settlement, cannot be used to cover the estimated £250 million cost of implementation.
The Mayor and TfL must cover the cost of his scheme through alternative sources available to them if they wish to proceed with imposing the ULEZ charge.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to upgrade existing waterways so that they can take larger cargos.
Answered by Robert Courts
To increase the use of freight on our waterways the Government provides revenue support through our Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight grants. We have committed £20 million per year to 2024/25 to support rail and water freight services on routes where they deliver environmental benefits over road haulage but are more expensive to operate.
The cross-modal and long-term Future of Freight plan, published on 15 June, sets out the Government’s objectives for a freight and logistics sector that is efficient, reliable, resilient and sustainable. The plan explicitly supports mode shift of freight from road to rail, inland waterways, coastal shipping and new innovative modes such as e-cargo bikes. The plan also sets out how government will raise the status of freight within the planning system, will develop with industry a £7 million Freight Innovation Fund and will undertake work to develop a National Freight Network. This work will support, and provide opportunities to increase the use of, waterways for freight.
Upgrades of the waterways network in the UK are the responsibility of the Canal and River Trust (CRT), which is sponsored by Defra. The Department for Transport continues to work with Defra officials and the CRT to ensure that freight is considered in the operation, maintenance and enhancement of the UK’s waterways.
There are a wide range of navigation authorities that manage inland waterways. These are either independent self-financing bodies such as port authorities or are funded by other branches of government such as Defra.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to commit to upgrading waterways by allocating adequate funding for navigation authorities.
Answered by Robert Courts
To increase the use of freight on our waterways the Government provides revenue support through our Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight grants. We have committed £20 million per year to 2024/25 to support rail and water freight services on routes where they deliver environmental benefits over road haulage but are more expensive to operate.
The cross-modal and long-term Future of Freight plan, published on 15 June, sets out the Government’s objectives for a freight and logistics sector that is efficient, reliable, resilient and sustainable. The plan explicitly supports mode shift of freight from road to rail, inland waterways, coastal shipping and new innovative modes such as e-cargo bikes. The plan also sets out how government will raise the status of freight within the planning system, will develop with industry a £7 million Freight Innovation Fund and will undertake work to develop a National Freight Network. This work will support, and provide opportunities to increase the use of, waterways for freight.
Upgrades of the waterways network in the UK are the responsibility of the Canal and River Trust (CRT), which is sponsored by Defra. The Department for Transport continues to work with Defra officials and the CRT to ensure that freight is considered in the operation, maintenance and enhancement of the UK’s waterways.
There are a wide range of navigation authorities that manage inland waterways. These are either independent self-financing bodies such as port authorities or are funded by other branches of government such as Defra.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the use of water freight.
Answered by Robert Courts
To increase the use of freight on our waterways the Government provides revenue support through our Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight grants. We have committed £20 million per year to 2024/25 to support rail and water freight services on routes where they deliver environmental benefits over road haulage but are more expensive to operate.
The cross-modal and long-term Future of Freight plan, published on 15 June, sets out the Government’s objectives for a freight and logistics sector that is efficient, reliable, resilient and sustainable. The plan explicitly supports mode shift of freight from road to rail, inland waterways, coastal shipping and new innovative modes such as e-cargo bikes. The plan also sets out how government will raise the status of freight within the planning system, will develop with industry a £7 million Freight Innovation Fund and will undertake work to develop a National Freight Network. This work will support, and provide opportunities to increase the use of, waterways for freight.
Upgrades of the waterways network in the UK are the responsibility of the Canal and River Trust (CRT), which is sponsored by Defra. The Department for Transport continues to work with Defra officials and the CRT to ensure that freight is considered in the operation, maintenance and enhancement of the UK’s waterways.
There are a wide range of navigation authorities that manage inland waterways. These are either independent self-financing bodies such as port authorities or are funded by other branches of government such as Defra.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the use of waterways for freight transportation.
Answered by Robert Courts
To increase the use of freight on our waterways the Government provides revenue support through our Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight grants. We have committed £20 million per year to 2024/25 to support rail and water freight services on routes where they deliver environmental benefits over road haulage but are more expensive to operate.
The cross-modal and long-term Future of Freight plan, published on 15 June, sets out the Government’s objectives for a freight and logistics sector that is efficient, reliable, resilient and sustainable. The plan explicitly supports mode shift of freight from road to rail, inland waterways, coastal shipping and new innovative modes such as e-cargo bikes. The plan also sets out how government will raise the status of freight within the planning system, will develop with industry a £7 million Freight Innovation Fund and will undertake work to develop a National Freight Network. This work will support, and provide opportunities to increase the use of, waterways for freight.
Upgrades of the waterways network in the UK are the responsibility of the Canal and River Trust (CRT), which is sponsored by Defra. The Department for Transport continues to work with Defra officials and the CRT to ensure that freight is considered in the operation, maintenance and enhancement of the UK’s waterways.
There are a wide range of navigation authorities that manage inland waterways. These are either independent self-financing bodies such as port authorities or are funded by other branches of government such as Defra.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to (a) improve rest facilities for HGV drivers and (b) ensure the safety of lorries in refuge areas.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
(a) The Government recognises the need to ensure hauliers have access to appropriate services and facilities.
We are aware of the concerns expressed by many HGV drivers about the provision, quality and value of lorry parking in the UK. We have announced £32.5 million in new funding to improve roadside facilities for hauliers and are undertaking a new National Lorry Parking Survey supported by direct industry engagement to help identify where improvements are most needed. We continue to engage with key stakeholders to encourage the development of safe, secure and high-quality lorry parking.
(b) Safety remains our top priority and our motorways are the safest type of road in the country.
On motorways where the hard shoulder has been converted to a traffic lane, there is a whole system of inter-related features, working together to help drivers. They include clearly signed and orange-coloured emergency areas set back from the road to provide greater protection than a hard shoulder and with telephones linking directly to our control rooms.
Emergency areas are available for when a driver has no alternative but to stop and it has not been possible to leave the motorway or reach a motorway service area. They are approximately 100 meters long (the average length of a football pitch) by 4.6 meters wide and set back from the left-hand edge of the motorway.
A Smart Motorway Driver Education Course was designed and developed jointly between National Highways and Logistics UK specifically for the freight sector. Its core objective is to help improve drivers’ understanding of smart motorways and how to use them. It is available free of charge and is recognised by JAUPT (the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training) as part of professional drivers’ formal accreditation. Since its launch in 2018 it has been supplied to more than 150 organisations with almost 400 courses delivered to more than 2,800 delegates.