Different businesses have different freight-related needs. For
some, the timeliness of deliveries is crucial; for others, it’s
the cost of moving freight. The arrangements for perishable goods
will be different from raw materials for manufacturing or parts
for assembly, for example.
Road haulage, maritime and aviation sectors may need to take
different steps to prepare for the effects, and harness the
opportunities, of Brexit. But there has been little
published analysis of sector-specific freight needs.
In a new inquiry launching today, the Transport Committee is
offering freight operators and their diverse customers, the
opportunity to specify these needs. Though the terms of reference
are wide, the Committee hopes the sector will be also be
forthcoming about the issues involved.
Although UK and EU negotiators have now agreed a Brexit
transitional period to run until December 2020, the pressure is
on to determine just what is required – and what can be delivered
in the time available - for the smooth operation of freight in
the longer term.
Launching the inquiry, the Chair of the Committee, MP, commented:
“We’ve heard a lot about customs arrangements, border controls,
tariffs and trade deals. But we haven’t heard enough about
transport infrastructure, policy and regulatory implications
affecting freight operators and their customers. But from day one
after Brexit, we will all expect our goods to turn up and for
life to continue as normal.
“While the agreement of a transitional period to December 2020 is
welcome, there remains a great deal of uncertainty for UK freight
operators and their customers. The implications of Brexit will
vary across freight modes and types of freight. We want the
sector to tell us what’s worrying them. What is required to make
this work?
“We want to cast our evidence-gathering net as wide as possible,
then focus our attention on areas where government and industry
actions will be most pressing, to prepare for both the challenges
and opportunities of Brexit.”
Terms of reference
The Transport Committee intends to examine the potential effects
of Brexit on UK freight operations and assess the preparatory
steps operators, their customers and the Government need to take.
The inquiry will not consider border and customs arrangements,
trade deals or tariffs as these fall outside the Committee’s
remit, but will look at the steps required to prepare for the
challenges and opportunities of Brexit for UK freight,
particularly through investment in transport infrastructure and
changes to transport policy and regulation.
The Committee is particularly interested to receive written
evidence addressing the following:
- the scale and nature of the challenges and opportunities
Brexit will present to UK freight companies and their customers;
- the adequacy of steps being taken by freight companies, their
representative bodies, their customers and the Government in
preparation for the challenges and opportunities of Brexit;
- mode and/or sector-specific requirements for additional
Government funding, or other changes to Government funding plans,
particularly in relation to transport infrastructure, to support
the needs of freight; and
- any new arrangements needed for the licencing, regulation and
training of operators and workers in the freight sector after
Brexit (including the adequacy of measures set out in the Haulage
Permits and Trailer Registration Bill).
The closing date for written submissions via the inquiry page on
the Committee’s website is Friday
8th June 2018.
Further information:
Committee membership: MP, Chair (Lab, Nottingham
South); (SNP, Inverclyde);
MP (Con, St Austell and
Newquay); MP (DUP, South Antrim);
MP (Con, Bexhill and Battle);
MP (Labour, Easington);
MP (Lab (Co-op), Plymouth,
Sutton and Devonport; MP (Con, Milton Keynes South);
MP (Lab, Blackley and
Broughton); MP (Con, Cleethorpes);
MP (Lab, Cambridge).
