Stephen Metcalfe MP joins Road Haulage Association in Parliament …

Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon & East Thurrock, recently attended the Road Haulage Association’s annual Parliamentary Reception to discuss the aims of their 2024 Manifesto.

On 10 January, the Road Haulage Association held their annual Parliamentary Reception to engage with Members of Parliament on the issues affecting the industry and how Parliament can work to resolve them. Stephen was invited to attend by Jordan Shelvey from local haulage business, Shelvey Haulage Limited.The constituency has a growing haulage industry, with London Gateway/Thames Freeport generating new revenue streams. Since being approved in 2021, Thames Freeport has generated over £600 million of private investment and 1,000 jobs. London Gateway handles some of the largest container ships in the world and has the capacity to hold 3.5 million containers – containers which supply businesses across the country. Hauliers are vital to the operation of this seamless distribution network.The Road Haulage Association’s 2024 Manifesto emphasised that, going forward, it is essential that costs are kept low and infrastructure is maintained. Last year, the Chancellor of the Exchequer continued the freeze on Fuel Duty and Vehicle Excise Duty for HGVs. Additionally, the Government announced that over £8 billion would be diverted from HS2 towards resurfacing roads across the country. Moreover, during Covid, millions was invested into upgrading roadside facilities and increasing HGV training places to 11,000. This is welcome news but there is still more to do to improve roadside facilities and improve infrastructure for electric HGVs.Stephen Metcalfe said: “It was great to hear from Jordan Shelvey, a constituent in the haulage industry, and I would like to thank her for inviting me to partake in the RHA reception. This kind of dialogue between politicians and industry is essential if we are going make a positive impact. Hauliers, and the wider logistics sector, are vital to the constituency and they have my full support.”

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