More freight transport cash urged

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The Government also needed to provide more strategic direction on dealing with issues of competition, congestion and the environment in relation to freight, the report from the House of Commons Transport Committee said.

MPs said they wanted to see more done to encourage goods to be shipped around the UK instead of being dropped at south east England ports then taken by lorry north.

This meant improving infrastructure to northern ports.

The committee also called on the Government to resume efforts to address the long-running competitive disadvantage faced by UK hauliers as a result of the relatively high fuel taxes levied in this country.

On the railways, MPs warned Network Rail not to treat freight as the poor relation.

Committee chairman Louise Ellman (Lab: Liverpool Riverside) said: "The Government has embraced the idea that, if the freight industry is left entirely to the market, a system resulting in the perfect, most efficient transportation of freight will emerge.

"However, that approach ignores other priorities, such as regional regeneration, employment, the wealth gap and the environment.

"The Government should not be a helpless bystander."

She went on: "It is now urgent for the Government to produce an environmentally-aware and business-friendly freight strategy that assists the national and regional economies."