FTA welcomes Spending Review commitment to post-Brexit trade

The Freight Transport Association has welcomed Chancellor Sajid Javid’s commitment to £2 billion of funding for government departments to help the UK to establish a new relationship with the EU.

As part of the Spending Review yesterday (4 September) it was confirmed that £2 billion of core funding would be provided to departments for Brexit in 2019-20 and would continue into 2020-21.

Heidi Skinner, head of policy and public affairs manager at FTA, said that the logistics industry is acutely aware of the need for government to support UK transport infrastructure, “particularly at a time of such uncertainty for British business”.

She said that without this post-Brexit certainty supply chains could not continue to run smoothly and “deliver the vital goods that our hospitals, schools and supermarkets need”.

“The efficient movement of freight in the UK is vital to the economy; it must not be stifled by inadequate infrastructure and a lack of capacity,” said Skinner. “To ensure delays and disruption are minimised and journey times remain reliable, it is of the utmost importance that links to our ports work as effectively as possible.”

Meanwhile Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, said that the Spending Review would have been a “golden opportunity” for the Chancellor to cut fuel duty and give road transport operators “a much-needed shot in the arm”.