Public Affairs monitoring for week ending 11 September 2026

Autumn Budget representation: Logistics UK calls for action on business costs, investment and growth

Logistics UK submitted its representation to HM Treasury on 9 September, ahead the Autumn Budget on 28 October. It sets out the sector’s key priorities to reduce business costs, unlock investment and strengthen resilient supply chains, and highlights the role the sector can play in reindustrialisation and getting young people into work. Key asks include maintaining the current rate of Fuel Duty, including the 5p per litre cut; reforming Business Rates to encourage investment; and for the sector to be included within the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICs).

Other asks on the Chancellor related to achieving an affordable transition to a green economy include greater support for charging and energy infrastructure, low-carbon fuels and innovation. Finally, the representation also calls for investment in skills, apprenticeships and workforce development, alongside support for streamlined border processes to reduce UK-EU trade friction.

Chancellor outlines devolution, infrastructure and regulatory reforms to drive growth

Chancellor John Healey delivered a speech on 7 September at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in the West Midlands setting out measures to support economic growth through infrastructure investment, devolution, regulatory reform and skills development. He acknowledged that high energy, regulatory, planning and labour costs are placing increasing pressure on businesses.

Healey committed to reducing the administrative burden of regulation on businesses by 25% by the end of this Parliament. He also said the government would extend judicial review reforms to all major infrastructure projects to help prevent unnecessary delays, alongside reviewing infrastructure delivery costs.

A forthcoming roadmap for fiscal devolution will give local leaders greater control over funding, including increased retention of business rates and, from 2028, a share of locally raised income tax for Mayoral Strategic Authorities. Healey also highlighted plans to align technical education and local skills provision more closely with employers’ needs.

Logistics UK welcomed the focus on reducing business costs, accelerating infrastructure delivery and addressing skills shortages, and will respond to the consultation on modernising corporate reporting, which closes on 30 November.

Government announces interim rail freight growth target for 2040 as Railways Bill debated in Lords

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced on 8 September a new interim target to increase the amount of freight moved by rail by at least 40% by 2040, measured in net tonne kilometres. This provides a milestone towards the government’s existing target of at least 75% growth by 2050. By 2040, the government expects a 65% increase in high-value goods, a 45% increase in construction goods and a 7% increase in critical goods moved by rail.

The Railways Bill, which will enable the Transport Secretary to set a statutory rail freight growth target for Great British Railways (GBR), began its House of Lords Committee Stage on 8 September with the debate continuing on 10 September. Peers debated GBR’s governance, access to rail infrastructure, private-sector participation, devolution, funding and performance measures.

Freight-related discussions focused on independent oversight of access and charges, representation for freight operators, measurable performance targets and consultation with the rail supply chain. Rail Minister Lord Hendy confirmed that GBR’s business plan will report progress against the freight growth target and that the Office of Rail and Road will monitor its performance. No freight-related amendments were agreed.

Logistics Minister highlights importance of cost-effective decarbonisation and recommits to Freight Plan

Logistics Minister Keir Mather addressed the Logistics UK President’s Council on 8 September and, during a wide-ranging discussion, emphasised the importance of ensuring the sector’s decarbonisation transition is cost-effective and gives businesses the confidence to make long-term investment decisions.

Committing to champion the logistics sector across Whitehall, Mather highlighted the strong link between logistics and the government’s ambition to deliver economic growth in every part of the country. He encouraged the sector to continue demonstrating its contribution to growth and to engage with government on the policy measures needed to support it. Mather also confirmed that the government remains committed to publishing a Freight Plan. He explained that work on the plan had been delayed by developments in the Middle East earlier this year, saying he wanted to ensure the final strategy reflects current realities.

The meeting, chaired by Logistics UK President Phil Roe and addressed by Chief Executive Ben Fletcher, brought together representatives from some of the UK’s largest and most innovative logistics businesses. In addition to the logistics minister, President’s Council members were joined by TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak, Vice Admiral Sir Andy Kyte KBE CB FCILT, Chief of Defence Logistics and Support, and Lord Marks of Hale CBE. Discussions focused on how industry, employees and government can work together to drive growth, innovation and resilience.

Also last week

Government

The government launched a new National Roads Policing Coordination Centre (NRPCC) on 5 September, to share intelligence, data and technology to tackle illegal number plates and associated organised crime. Police will also trial technology to detect modified “ghost plates” while the government considers tougher penalties and updated number plate standards.
Logistics UK responded to the government’s consultation on safety principles for automated vehicles on 1 September, supporting a standard equivalent to that of a careful and competent human driver while calling for freight-specific risks, including HGV operating characteristics, cybersecurity and system resilience.
Logistics UK responded to the Department for Transport’s consultation on in-use vehicle emissions on 6 September, supporting the principle that vehicles should continue to meet the emissions standards applied when first approved. The response calls for a proportionate, risk-based approach focused on deliberate tampering and non-compliance, with clear guidance on testing, evidence and enforcement, while ensuring responsible operators are not unfairly penalised.

Parliament

The Highways (Financing) Bill had its First Reading in the House of Commons, proposing a new model for financing major road projects through licences allowing tolls to be charged in return for works on trunk roads in England. The Bill would make the Office of Rail and Road the principal economic and licensing regulator for projects using the model, including the Lower Thames Crossing.
Logistics UK Interim Director of Policy and Communications Ben Garratt gave evidence to the Transport Select Committee on 9 September as part of its scrutiny of the Draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement. He outlined why Heathrow expansion is critical to UK trade.

Devolved, regional and local

Sinn Féin and the DUP said the UK government’s offer of £350 million a year for three years falls short of the funding needed to resolve the Northern Ireland Executive’s Budget deadlock and address pressures on public services. Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant also held talks on potential institutional reforms, following a Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report warning that the absence of an agreed Budget is limiting efforts to tackle barriers to economic growth.
The Scottish Government launched a£17.5 million round of the Just Transition Fund on 10 September supporting 22 projects and more than 500 jobs in North East Scotland. The investment covers clean-energy manufacturing, community projects and industry-aligned training for 350 learners each year.
Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport Stephen Flynn appeared before the Scottish Parliament’s Transport Committee on 9 September, raising challenges affecting ferry procurement and confirming that Transport Scotland will be brought under direct government control by the new financial year.

Coming up

On Monday 14 September, Shadow Transport Minister Greg Smith is addressing a Logistics UK roundtable on “Speeding up UK Infrastructure Delivery”.
On Monday 14 September, the Environmental Audit Committee will hear from ministers and Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty as part of its inquiry into air pollution in England.
On Monday 14 September, the Public Accounts Committee will question senior Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd officials about the delivery of HS2 and Euston.
On Tuesday 15 September, the Commercial Payments Bill will have its Report Stage in the House of Lords.
On Tuesday 15 September, the Transport Committee has a session on the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement.
On Tuesday 15 September, the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee will hear from Mayors on fiscal devolution in England.
On Wednesday 16 September, the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will examine the risks to the electricity system from periods of low renewable generation.
On Wednesday 16 September, the Railways Bill will continue its Committee Stage in the House of Lords.
On Wednesday 16 September, the House of Lords will debate measures to prevent business rates avoidance.
On Wednesday 16 September, Logistics UK, UK Hospitality, British Retail Consortium and FDF Scotland are hosting an MSP Dinner, Alexander Herdman, Policy Lead for Scotland and Multimodal and Interim Director for Policy and Comms Ben Garratt are attending.
On Thursday 17 September, Paul Foster MP is attending a Logistics UK site visit to HMP Wymott with Logistics UK Head of Skills and Multimodal Bethany Windsor and Public Affairs Manager Dominic Aeissame to discuss training prison leavers to join the logistics workforce.
On Thursday 17 September, the House of Lords will debate the impact of extreme weather on the UK’s food supply.
The House of Commons will rise for conference recess at the end of Tuesday 15 September, and the House of Lords at the end of Thursday 17 September, with both Houses returning on Monday 12 October.
On Friday 18 September, Lee Baron MP is visiting ADM Milling with Logistics UK focusing on electrification on weight and dimensions.

On Wednesday 23 September, the Department for Transport’s ZEV Mandate review team will join Logistics UK’s Decarbonisation Working Group meeting from 09:30 to 11:30 to update members and answer questions. To register, contact Working Group Secretary Stephanie Haszczyn.