Animated and constructive discussion as Logistics UK members engage with Transport Committee Chair

The animated and constructive discussion covered the Committee’s priorities for the year ahead, including decarbonisation, infrastructure and drivers’ facilities. During the meeting at the House of Commons, Cadbury shared some of the priorities of her committee and listened to those of Logistics UK’sExecutive Members.  

Having served as the Labour MP for Brentford & Isleworth since 2015, in September 2024 Cadbury was elected across the House of Commons to chair the Transport Select Committee – a committee she has served on since 2018.  

Chairing the discussion was Kevin Green, Acting Chief Executive of Logistics UK, who explained the objective was to “unpick some of the challenges and barriers that we’re facing in the sector… including, but not limited to, decarbonisation and skills, and also the wider role that logistics plays in the UK economy.”  

When introducing themselves, members highlighted a government priority that would help their business or the sector. Following this, Cadbury stressed that her role, as a committee chair, is to scrutinise the government, explaining: “we hold the government to account, and in our case the transport sector.” She added that it is therefore very useful to engage with businesses involved in the transport sector about their priorities.  

As well as covering all transport modes, Cadbury said the issues considered by the committee often crossed over into the transition to net zero as well as accessibility. 

In addition to holding the government to account, the committee holds providers to account too, including power stations and the National Grid. Recently it has summoned DVSA officials over the driving test controversy, as well as the Transport Secretary and junior ministers from the Department for Transport on other matters. 

By the end of her first two years chairing the committee, Cadbury said she hopes to have looked at every transport mode in some depth, with decarbonisation being the thread that runs through everything. She was also keen to do further work on skills and transport, transport integration and road safety.  

Concluding the discussion, Green thanked Ruth Cadbury for her time, explaining: “It’s been great to have some insight into the way your committee works and clearly there’s lots of passion, will and energy. People around this table are keen to make the right investments, especially to develop the agenda around decarbonisation and skills and infrastructure.”