Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the information her Department holds on (a) key transport routes (b) main transport bottlenecks for freight movements across transport modes and (c) freight data; and what assessment she has made of whether her Department's analytical capabilities support the improvement of that information.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department holds a broad range of information on the freight and logistics system that provides an effective evidence-base for our work. This includes information that helps understand key transport routes, like our published road traffic and maritime statistics, and information to help understand network bottlenecks, such as our congestion statistics and stakeholder intelligence.
The Department recognises the importance of continually improving its analytical capabilities, as evidenced in the important recent update to the road freight values of time in our Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG). Further actions to improve our freight data provision and analytical capability are ongoing and will be announced in the upcoming Transport Data Action Plan and new plan for freight.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her forthcoming Freight and Logistics Plan will identify (a) a National Freight Network, (b) key transport routes and (c) main transport bottlenecks for freight movements across transport modes; and what steps her Department is taking to integrate increased use of data and analytics as part of that Plan.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The forthcoming new plan for freight is informed by the broad range of information the Department holds on the freight and logistics system. This includes information that helps us understand key transport routes, like our published road traffic and maritime statistics, and information to help us understand network bottlenecks, such as our congestion statistics and stakeholder intelligence.
The plan will also reflect the importance of continually improving our data and analytical capabilities and strengthening our associated understanding of the freight and logistics system as an integrated multimodal network. Further detail on the measures and overarching approach we are taking forward to do so will be provided in the plan.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to fund infrastructure to support the logistics industry.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is taking signification action on infrastructure used by logistics.
National support for the road haulage industry includes joint investment with industry in lorry parking and driver welfare facilities of up to £35.7 million. This is in addition to up to £30 million joint investment by National Highways and industry to improve lorry parking on the strategic road network (SRN). The Government is also investing £25 billion in the SRN over the next 5 years.
At Autumn Budget 2025, the Government committed a further £891 million to complete the publicly funded works for the Lower Thames Crossing, to enable the private sector to take forward construction and long-term operation. The most significant road building scheme in a generation, this will relieve congestion at the Dartford Crossing, improve connectivity across the UK and to major ports, improving resilience and reliability for freight.
To support decarbonisation, the Government has invested up to £120 million in the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator, alongside up to £30 million in the Depot Charging Scheme. The Plug‑in Truck Grant also helps reduce the upfront cost of zero‑emission HGVs.
The recent Spending Review saw average annual funding increase for the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline over the next four years which will support rail freight growth.
My department is updating planning and regulatory processes for ports, including the National Policy Statement for Ports. The Government is working with the National Wealth Fund, which has committed at least £5.8 billion of its capital to five sectors, including ports.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support young people to pursue careers in the logistics sector.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP is working to make logistics a sector of choice for young people by promoting awareness and creating clear entry routes. We support Generation Logistics, an industry-led campaign match-funded by the Department for Transport to promote careers in the sector to young people and other underrepresented groups.
Campaigns like Generation Logistics aim to change perceptions and highlight opportunities in the industry, while partnerships with trade bodies such as Logistics UK and UKWA help strengthen employer engagement.
DWP also supports schools through its adviser network and collaborates with organisations like the Careers & Enterprise Company to build a talent pipeline. These efforts focus on attracting young people, women and underrepresented groups to address skills shortages and improve diversity in a traditionally male-dominated sector.
DWP is also a member of the Freight Workforce Group, chaired by the Department for Transport, which provides a forum to share evidence, align activity and support initiatives that strengthen the long-term supply of skilled workers into the sector. Guidance will soon be published by the Department for Transport to support employers with coordinating work experience and recruiting from hard-to-reach groups.
DWP is currently piloting Road to Logistics training in the East Midlands to raise aspirations particularly in young people and those in less advantaged communities.
More generally, this Government is investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget, we announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, funding £820 million for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and an additional £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy. Further details of the announcement can be found in the Written Statement from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 8 December 2025 HCWS1137.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the impact of current fuel duty rates on the road freight and logistics sector; and whether her Department plans to bring forward measures to reduce transport costs.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
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 increasing fuel duty rates in line with RPI from April 2027. This will save the average van driver £100 next year compared to previous plans, and the average HGV driver more than £800.
The Government considers the impact of fuel duty on the economy, including households and businesses, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had recent discussions with HM Treasury on potential fiscal steps to support the road haulage industry with increases in its costs.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department for Transport works with industry stakeholders and across government to address matters impacting the viability of our vital road freight sector. This includes the ministerially chaired Freight Council which brings together senior logistics sector representatives and government officials to consider strategic issues facing the multimodal freight sector, in addition to overseeing delivery of the long-term Future of Freight Plan.
Issues relating to fiscal policy, and its impact on the wider economy, remain a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Like all taxes, the government keeps HGV Vehicle Excise Duty and the HGV Levy under review.
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 role hydrogen could play in reducing carbon emissions associated with the logistics sector.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Hydrogen has an important potential role to play in decarbonising heavier applications such as HGVs. There are specific use cases where hydrogen can offer advantages over batteries, for example where vehicles need longer ranges and more rapid refuelling (longer distance HGVs) or greater energy density. The Zero Emission Road Freight Demonstrator programme will showcase zero emission HGV technologies, including hydrogen fuel cells, at scale, on UK roads. The programme will build a strong evidence base to enable strategic, long-term, national infrastructure decisions to be made.
The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) supports the supply of renewable hydrogen used in transport by placing obligations on suppliers to ensure a percentage of the fuel supplied in the UK is from renewable sources where it can provide valuable carbon savings. The Government has expanded this support to include not just road vehicles, but also trains and shipping. Fuels supplied under the RTFO scheme deliver a third of domestic transport carbon savings under current carbon budgets.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential role of hydrogen in reducing carbon emissions relating to the logistics sector.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Hydrogen has an important potential role to play in decarbonising heavier applications such as HGVs. There are specific use cases where hydrogen can offer advantages over batteries, for example where vehicles need longer ranges and more rapid refuelling (longer distance HGVs) or greater energy density. The Zero Emission Road Freight Demonstrator programme will showcase zero emission HGV technologies, including hydrogen fuel cells, at scale, on UK roads. The programme will build a strong evidence base to enable strategic, long-term, national infrastructure decisions to be made.
The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) supports the supply of renewable hydrogen used in transport by placing obligations on suppliers to ensure a percentage of the fuel supplied in the UK is from renewable sources where it can provide valuable carbon savings. The Government has expanded this support to include not just road vehicles, but also trains and shipping. Fuels supplied under the RTFO scheme deliver a third of domestic transport carbon savings under current carbon budgets.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have for a successor to the Freight Innovation Fund for 2024 onwards.
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 on the ability to trial innovative logistics vehicles in the UK resulting from delaying the introduction of the Transport Bill mentioned in the Queen’s Speech on 10 May 2022.
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.