Secretary of State for Transport (): The government is committed to the deepest possible
integration of the four nations of the United Kingdom, so that
businesses and individuals have the infrastructure they need to
trade, travel and do business across the whole country. To that
end, in June, Sir Peter Hendy CBE was tasked by the Prime
Minister with exploring ways in which transport can better
connect the four nations of the United Kingdom, levelling-up all
parts of the country and helping us Build Back Better from the
pandemic. The Government is also announcing that the consultation
on aviation tax reform, announced at Budget 2020, will be
published in Spring 2021.
The consultation will include options to change the APD treatment
for domestic flights, such as reintroducing a return leg
exemption or creation of a new lower domestic rate. In addition
to looking at the case for increasing the number of international
distance bands, we will continue to decarbonise domestic aviation
as part of our ambition to reach net zero, including through
mandating the use of sustainable aviation fuels. All domestic
aviation emissions are captured in carbon budgets.
The government welcomes the Union Connectivity Review Interim
Report published today by Sir Peter. The report marks a key step
in looking at whether and how connectivity across the UK can be
improved in order to support this government’s aim to build a
stronger and fairer economy for the future. To support this, we
are making £20m development funding available to begin assessing
options on road and rail schemes which have been identified by
the review as crucial for cross-border connectivity. To achieve
the aim of better connecting the UK, the report has considered
the creation of a new UK Strategic Transport Network that will
allow people and commerce to move freely by road, rail, sea and
air, spreading ideas and investment to all corners of this
country.
This Network of improved routes, which will now form the main
focus of Sir Peter’s continuing investigations, would form the
transport spine of the country, facilitating quicker and easier
travel and trade between all corners of this country, levelling
up communities and maximising national potential.
