Logistics welcomes Sunak’s spending review

Logistics and Supply Chain News

“Today’s Comprehensive Spending Review announcement includes much for the logistics sector to be encouraged by, and we look forward to examining the detail,’ Elizabeth de Jong, Policy Director at business group Logistics UK.

Upgrades to our railway network and the “biggest ever investment” in new roads are both essential to improving the competitiveness of our economy by enabling freight to move smoothly around the country, and across borders. We are hoping to find that the Green Book guidelines used to make key investment decisions now properly value the contribution that freight makes to the UK’s economic performance nation-wide. Our members look forward to working with the new Infrastructure Bank to ensure that green initiatives and improved infrastructure remains a government priority in the years to come.”

In response to remarks made by Gareth Llewellyn, outgoing head of the DVSA in front of the Commons Transport Select Committee today (25 November 2020), David Wells, Chief Executive of Logistics UK, said:

“To say the Traffic Commissioner service is ‘anachronistic’ and the haulage industry does not need its support totally ignores the huge benefits in safety and compliance which the service provides to the sector. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Traffic Commissioners supported industry to keep goods and services flowing to keep the country running, unlike DVSA, which closed down all its services and only reacted to the urgent needs of operators when pushed by industry. The Traffic Commissioners kept their doors open to assist the work of our members throughout 2020 – a modern and forward-thinking approach, and not one rooted in the 20th century, as Mr Llewellyn claimed.”

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