Submitting a response to the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, Elizabeth de Jong, Policy Director at Logistics UK, comments:
“Logistics UK is urging the government to recognise the vital role the logistics industry plays in supporting the UK as it recovers and rebuilds from the COVID-19 pandemic and transitions to a net zero emission economy; the 2021 Comprehensive Spending Review must include significant investment into the nation’s transport infrastructure. With the UK seeking new international trading agreements post-Brexit, the need for world-class infrastructure has never been greater to help the UK take its new place in the global economy.
“This includes the need to invest in roads nationwide to reduce congestion, as well as improving driver facilities to attract HGV drivers into the occupation and increased rail capacity to encouraging greater rail freight use. Investment in IT systems at our border is needed for smooth trade, and investment in connected and automated vehicles to increase our competitiveness. With the logistics industry committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, Logistics UK is also urging the government to prioritise funding to accelerate the development of alternative fuels, across all transport modes, and to commit to delivering the energy supplies needed.”
Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, including its ground-breaking research into the impacts of COVID-19 on the whole supply chain, please visit logistics.org.uk
