🕒 Article read time: 2 minutes
Logistics UK urges progress on infrastructure spending after government report
Logistics UK will be pressing the next government to address the findings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)’s annual report, which found that the government and wider economy currently lack the necessary skills and capacity to deliver ambitious plans for major infrastructure over the next five years.
With skills shortages in technical and engineering roles set to worsen as gaps in the workforce are compounded by demand from other global construction projects, the PAC report warns that failure to build market capacity could result in higher prices for scarce skills. In the report, the committee urged the government to set out how it will address these recruitment issues and ensure future projects deliver for taxpayers in the long term.
“A robust and efficient infrastructure is key to protecting the UK’s highly complex supply chain,” says Logistics UK’s Head of Cities and Infrastructure, Jonathan Walker. “Logistics UK has long been campaigning for a long-term coherent infrastructure strategy, backed by reforms to planning and alignment between national, regional and local plans.
“Our members support the National Infrastructure Commission’s call this week for the government to provide policy stability, make faster decisions around infrastructure projects and remove the barriers that slow down and increase the cost of infrastructure delivery.
“It is also vital that the next government follows the NIC’s recommendation to support the logistics industry’s transition to zero emission vehicles.
“As a key driver of all economic activity, the logistics sector is getting ever more connected, both within businesses and between different logistics hubs and transport options. To keep up, the UK’s infrastructure must also become more integrated and versatile, which is why the next government must move forward to work with the freight sector to develop a National Freight Network.”
Published On: 23/05/2024 15:00:00
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News In brief
New services to cut transit times for ferries and containers
Ferry customers will see faster, more efficient crossings between Dover and Calais after P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries announced a new space charter on the route. The agreement means customers booked with either carrier will be offered the next available departure when they arrive at the port, whichever company is operating it – helping them reach their destination faster.
Initially serving freight customers, the agreement means all freight on the quayside will be shipped on the next available sailing on either carrier. This will ensure ferry capacity is fully utilised, easing port congestion, lowering the carbon footprint of the cross-Channel route and delivering efficiencies.
Meanwhile, shipping company ACL’s new transatlantic service in partnership with BG Freight Line and Peel Ports Group will have transit times up to two weeks faster than any similar service travelling between Dublin/Belfast and North America via a UK or continental transshipment port.
The partnership will offer importers and exporters quicker than ever before access to/from the USA and Canada with direct calls at the major ports of Halifax, New York, Baltimore and Norfolk via the Port of Liverpool.
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