A financial incentive to encourage use of low-carbon fuels, a reform of the Apprenticeship Levy and increased funding for coach parking facilities are among the pleas made by RHA in its submission ahead of the government’s Autumn Statement.
The trade association for coach and HGV is calling on the Chancellor on 22 November to incentivise the move to greener fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) by means of an emissions-linked rebate to reflect the higher cost of such alternatives versus diesel. It is also campaigning for no increase in fuel duty.
As part of the government’s plans for net-zero, RHA asks for realistic timescales and regulatory certainty for the phase-in of low and zero-emissions vehicle technologies, so that undue cost pressures are not placed on operators.
The body also reiterates its desire for “reform of the Apprenticeship Levy into a more flexible Skills Levy for apprenticeships and approved vocational courses such as skills bootcamps” in order to plug the skills gap. Specifically, it suggests extending the skills bootcamps to include coach and bus licence training.
Given RHA estimates of a shortage of 11,000 coach and lorry parking spaces across the UK, it is urging the Treasury to provide ring-fenced funding for local authorities to remedy the problem. It calls for reform of the National Planning Policy Framework to make planning permission easier for such facilities. Also on the wish list is a new cross-departmental taskforce to review existing driver facilities.
Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director, says: “Moving people and goods is a fundamental building block for the economy and society – it’s the core enabler of all economic activity.
“Hauliers and coach operators need consistent laws and regulations that allow the sector to work and invest in a predictable way so they can continue to deliver for us all.”
