Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about issues affecting drivers in the UK. COVID-19 has posed significant challenges for the transport industry that will remain with us for years or even decades to come.

I agree that transport is the lifeblood of our economy. Workers such as our lorry drivers are part of an essential industry, and have delivered vital supplies throughout the pandemic. I believe the Government needs to listen to industry and give them the support that employers and employees need during this difficult time.

As you highlight, the Government is now considering moving the phase out of sales of petrol and diesel cars and vans, including hybrids, to 2030, and a decision on this is expected shortly. Shifting to this new, earlier date has the potential to create new high-skilled jobs in towns and cities across the country, as well as significant environmental and public health benefits. Studies suggest that manufacturing batteries to replace internal combustion engines would boost direct employment in the automotive industry from about 170,000 jobs today to as many as 220,000 by 2040. In contrast, a failure to accelerate the development and rollout of new technologies risks exacerbating the severe challenges already facing the UK car industry.

Fuel duty has been frozen for the last ten years. I am aware there were reports in early September that the Government was considering raising fuel duty by five pence a litre in the autumn Budget. However, it has since been announced that the Budget will not now take place this year.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP