Public Affairs monitoring for week ending 27 March 2026

Help us secure MP visits to your logistics sites – submit up to 10 locations using this form . We will always seek your approval before arranging a visit.

Middle East conflict: government sets out new measures on energy prices and supply security

Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave a statement to Parliament on 24 March addressing rising energy prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East. She announced the introduction of a new anti‑profiteering framework and, if needed, time‑limited powers so the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and other regulators can act on unfair price increases. This follows confirmation that the CMA is monitoring petrol and diesel prices and will report back soon.

She also announced further measures, including legislation later this year to accelerate nuclear project delivery by 2027, a review of government‑backed guarantees for priority infrastructure projects facing legal challenges, and possible reductions in agri‑food tariffs to help ease food price pressures.

Government continues to stress that the UK has strong and diverse fuel supply security, with production and imports operating as normal and contingency plans in place. Logistics UK has highlighted the need for timely and clear communication with the industry should any intervention be required.

Logistics UK remains in close contact with government. CEO Ben Fletcher joined a call with Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle on 25 March about the impact of the Middle East conflict on UK businesses, raising concerns about rising fuel prices, duty and supply continuity. We are also engaging in weekly meetings with the Department for Transport (DfT), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and Alliance of Logistics Trade Associations (ALTA) members to share intelligence on the conflict’s impact on fuel supply, pricing and logistics operations.

We continue to press government on the growing pressures caused by escalating fuel costs and urge the Chancellor to strengthen business confidence and supply chain resilience by reviewing the planned fuel duty increase. We are also calling on government to use careful language around profiteering to avoid unintended consequences for legitimate businesses operating on tight margins.

Read our latest Middle East update here

RIS3 published

The Department for Transport published the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) on 26 March. RIS3 sets out the government’s five-year investment plan, and vision for the Strategic Road Network (SRN) from 2026 – 2031.

The strategy sets out £27 billion worth of investment to upgrade and improve safety on England’s roads across the next five years. It confirms funding for the dualling of the A66 and commits to unlocking private investment to deliver the Lower Thames Crossing.

Over half of all RIS3 spending will go on operations, maintenance and renewals. This includes resurfacing over 9,000 kilometres worth of motorway and A-road lanes, which represents around a quarter of the network. To allow for progress to be tracked, the government has launched an online interactive map.

Logistics UK has responded to the publication welcoming the strategy’s sharper focus on planned, preventative road maintenance.

Zero Emission vehicle grants and depot charging scheme

The Department for Transport and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles announced on 25 March that it will be investing £1 billion to support British businesses to roll out clean trucks and vans and install new EV chargers at depots; the announcement covers Zero Emission Truck and Van Grants and the Depot Charging Scheme.

The truck grant will offer savings of up to £81,000 off the heaviest zero emissions trucks, covering up to 40% of the cost. The van grant will continue to offer discounts of up to £5,000 off the cost of electric vans. Alongside this, businesses and public authorities will also be able to save up to £1 million, covering up to 70% of the cost, when installing charging infrastructure for vans, coaches, and eHGVs, with a £170 million investment into the government’s Depot Charging Scheme.

Logistics UK has welcomed this package of support, saying it will help enable the sector to expand and decarbonise its fleets.

Also this week

Government

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government launched two new consultations on 23 March. The first seeks views on proposals to establish a new national default fee schedule for planning applications and on the principles of local fee setting. This covers proposals to establish a new national default fee schedule, based on 90% of estimated costs; introduce new fees and restructure existing fee categories to reduce complexity for users; and implement a surcharge on planning fees for statutory consultees, set in the region of 10% of the national default fee. The consultation closes on 18 May. The second seeks views on proposals that require Local Planning Authorities to consult the Secretary of State on some planning decisions and closes on 4 May.
The government published its six monthly HS2 report on 23 March, providing an interim update on the programme reset, with fuller details to follow. The statement says HS2 Ltd and DfT are reassessing remaining scope, schedule and costs and seeking to remove over specification and complexity to produce robust estimates. Separately, the Transport Secretary has asked HS2 Ltd to examine options to cut costs and reduce delays, including aligning operating speeds with established high-speed practice (around 300–320 km/h) rather than the current 360 km/h specification. Government says these options would have negligible impact on journey times and could enable earlier entry into service.
The government announced on 24 March plans to strengthen late payment legislation by giving the Small Business Commissioner new powers to investigate bad practice, resolve disputes and fine offenders. Measures include a 60‑day cap on payment terms for large firms paying smaller suppliers, mandatory statutory interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate, and a proposed ban on withholding retentions in construction contracts. The government also plans to introduce time limits for invoice disputes and require persistently late‑paying large companies to publicly explain poor performance and corrective actions.
Transport for the North (TfN) submitted statutory advice on 24 March to the Secretary of State for Transport on maximising the Transpennine Route Upgrade freight benefits, following sector engagement.
The Minister of Border Security Alex Norris laid a written statement on 26 March outlining the steps the government is taking to prepare for the full implementation of the EU Entry/Exit System EES. First launched in October 2025, the scheme is set to be fully implemented all EU airports and ports on 10 April 2026.

Parliament

Jim Dickson (Labour, Dartford) tabled a written question to the Secretary of State for Transport asking whether her Department plans to publish a national strategy on HGV parking and welfare facilities.
- Responding on 23 March, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Keir Mather said the government has no plans to publish a national strategy on HGV parking, but the DfT is conducting a new National Survey of Lorry Parking, due in the autumn, to update evidence on parking and driver welfare. Findings from the 2022 survey underpin a £35.7m matched‑funding scheme improving truck stops, alongside £30m from National Highways. The government is also proposing strengthened freight and logistics policy in the National Planning Policy Framework.
James McMurdock (Independent, South Basildon and East Thurrock) tabled a written question to the Secretary of State for Transport asking what discussions she has had with the Home Office regarding the collection of detailed data on freight crime and its hotspots.
- Responding on 23 March, Minister Keir Mather said DfT is in regular discussion with the Home Office about freight crime and its locations. He noted that on 25 February he and the Minister for Policing and Crime hosted a freight roundtable with representatives from the haulage industry, trade bodies and the police, where sector concerns were directly heard. The Home Office has been working with police forces to improve the visibility of freight crime in recorded crime data. A new freight‑crime recording flag has been developed and is currently being piloted in two forces. The pilot results will soon be evaluated, adjustments made as necessary, and, if successful, the flag will be rolled out nationally for mandatory use.
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Richard Holden tabled a written question to the Secretary of State for Transport about effectiveness of the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Matched Funding Scheme.
- Responding on 24 March, Minister Keir Mather said DfT has commissioned an independent evaluation of the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Matched Funding Scheme, to consider the application and delivery process, the role of the scheme in improving lorry driver facilities in England and the impact of the site improvements for drivers. The report is due to be published in Summer 2026.
Richard Holden tabled a written question to the Secretary of State for Transport asking what assessment has made of the potential implications for its policies of the UK Logistics Network report published by Logistics UK in 2024.
- Responding on 25 March, Minister Kier Mather said that the report and its recommendations formed part of the evidence base considered for the new plan for freight, which is due to be published later in spring. This will set out the department’s policy priorities for the sector and the actions we will take to support the efficiency of the freight network.
Logistics UK CEO Ben Fletcher and Head of Trade Policy James Mills met Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office Chris Ward on 24 March to discuss our priority asks on trade, including case for progressing the SPS agreement with the EU; improving other aspects of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA); reducing the impact of the Windsor Framework on GB-NI trade flows; and reducing border friction caused by the full implementation of EES.
The Transport Committee held an oral evidence session on 25 March on their inquiry into Supercharging the EV transition. Logistics UK submitted written evidence in January.
The Lower Thames Crossing Consortium held a parliamentary reception on 25 March sponsored by Jim Dickson (Labour, Dartford) and addressed by Simon Lightwood MP, Minister for Local Transport (Roads and Buses). Logistics UK attended.
Ministers from the Department for transport took oral questions in the House of Commons on 26 March.
- Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury (Labour, Brentford and Isleworth) asked when the government will deliver a plan to increase HGV parking spaces. Responding, Minister for Local Transport Lilian Greenwood said a dedicated freight policy has been introduced, so that planning reflects needs in this area. She highlighted the forthcoming national lorry parking survey.
- Shadow Transport Minister Greg Smith (Conservative, Mid Buckinghamshire) asked what was being done to tackle freight crime and give HGV drivers appropriate facilities. Responding, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the government was working hard on these issues and took it seriously.
The Leader of the House of Commons confirmed on 26 March that the King’s Speech will take place on 13 May. He added that the day of prorogation will be confirmed in due course. Legislation that has not yet been passed in this session of Parliament will either require a carry-over motion or will fall. Five Bills including the Railways Bill and the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill already have carry-over motions agreed, so that they can resume their passage in the next parliamentary session.

Local, regional & devolved

Transport Scotland published its National Transport Strategy – Fifth Delivery Plan on 18 March, which includes several references to freight. The plan highlights progress by Regional Transport Partnerships on decarbonisation initiatives and sets out measures to strengthen the resilience of trunk roads in response to extreme weather.
The Scottish Government published its business and regulatory impact assessment for Scotland’s Climate Change Plan – 2026-2040 on 24 March. It notes that Transport Scotland maintains ongoing engagement with the road freight and haulage sector through regular meetings of the Scottish Freight and Logistics Action Group (ScotFLAG) and one-to-one meetings with industry bodies, including Logistics UK. On Rail Freight, it references the ongoing engagement with freight customers and freight and logistics providers through the Scotland Freight Joint Board (SFJB, which Logistics UK sits on, to inform and understand the impact of their freight growth targets.
The Railways Bill legislative consent motion was introduced by Liam McArthur in the Scottish Parliament on 25 March. Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop supported it, highlighting devolved powers. Sue Webber MSP (Conservative, Lothian) opposed, citing open-access and freight concerns. The motion passed: 91 for, 1 against, 28 abstentions.

Other

The Port of London Authority published its Annual Trade Report on 23 March, confirming that trade volumes through the Port reached a 50‑year high in 2025. Almost 57 million tonnes were handled, representing a 9% year‑on‑year increase, with container traffic rising by 23%.

Coming up