← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Transport Decarbonisation Plan
16 June 2021
Lead MP
Felicity Buchan
Responding Minister
Rachel Maclean
Tags
TransportClimateForeign AffairsEnergy
Word Count: 12926
Other Contributors: 6
At a Glance
Felicity Buchan raised concerns about transport decarbonisation plan in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Ms Buchan requested that all new houses, buildings, and office blocks be mandated to have EV charging points. She also suggested increasing battery capacity in the UK through recycling initiatives and considered a zero emission mandate similar to California's approach to accelerate supply and reduce leasing costs for EVs.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The UK is the fastest decarbonising G20 country since 1990 and has legislated for net zero by 2050. However, transport emissions are rising and account for approximately 30% of total emissions. Felicity Buchan emphasised that electric vehicles (EVs) are critical to reducing these emissions, as cars contribute to 55% of transport-related greenhouse gases. She noted the importance of a comprehensive strategic network of EV charging points, focusing on customer experience, reliability, and interoperability.
Alan Brown
SNP
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
As the hon. Lady rightly says, targets in themselves are no use; we need plans. I assume she agrees that any plans need to be backed by policies and proper funding to show us a pathway to net zero. The UK Government's lack of a transport decarbonisation plan is considered a dereliction of duty, especially given the sector's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Alan Brown questions why the plan has not been published despite its initial promise last year and emphasizes the need for interlinked strategies across energy policy, heating systems, and transportation. He highlights Scotland's leadership in rail decarbonisation with an end date of 2035 compared to Network Rail's interim programme aiming at a 2050 target. Brown also addresses the necessity for a hydrogen production strategy, green hydrogen targets, and support for sustainable aviation fuels. Asks if the Minister is discussing with other Ministers how energy policy aligns with transport decarbonisation goals to ensure net zero targets are met.
Rother Valley
Mr Stafford discussed the importance of critical minerals for green energy and low-carbon transport, highlighting China's dominance in lithium-ion battery production. He also advocated for a comprehensive critical minerals strategy and hydrogen technology advancement to ensure the UK's competitiveness. Tarmac is made of oil, so we need to offset emissions when making roads as part of the plan.
Gavin Newlands
SNP
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Critiqued the UK Government's failure to match rhetoric with action in transport decarbonisation, highlighting delays in electric buses, onshore wind, carbon capture, rail electrification, and reductions in EV grants. Mentioned Scotland's ambitious targets for green buses and rail electrification by 2035, contrasted with the UK's slow pace. Highlighted significant investment in charging points in Scotland compared to England, urging the Government to address this imbalance. Highlights a significant discrepancy in planned electric vehicle charge points between London and the east of England, questioning why this disparity exists. Points out there is one charge point for every 2,700 people in London compared to one for every 38,500 people in the east.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Expressed concerns about the lack of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland, highlighting that there are only 320 fast charge points and 17 rapid public charge points. Stressed the importance of providing adequate charging facilities to encourage early adoption of electric vehicles among constituents who often face queues at charging stations or unreliable charging point access. Asks for a response on how green biofuels can improve rail and public transport in the UK, if not addressed directly, offers to take an answer later.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
The MP expressed concern about the lack of ambition and action from the Government regarding transport decarbonisation, citing missed deadlines for publishing the Transport Decarbonisation Plan. She also highlighted issues with funding cuts for EV plug-in grants, piecemeal public charging infrastructure funding, and road building projects that may conflict with net zero emissions targets. Inquires if the Minister's suggestions regarding charge points include legislation that mandates operators to meet certain reliability standards.
Don Valley
Mr Fletcher highlighted the need for a transition to electric buses in Doncaster, noting that older and polluting buses are predominantly located there while newer models are in Sheffield. He mentioned that local pollution from vehicles on streets is significant and called for collaboration between the Government, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Doncaster Council, and private enterprise to reduce emissions by introducing clean air measures.
Government Response
Rachel Maclean
Government Response
It is a huge pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Nokes. I warmly congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington (Felicity Buchan) on securing this landmark debate on the forthcoming transport decarbonisation plan and welcome the opportunity to provide an update and set out the Government's position on all matters raised. I have thanked Members who contributed for their extensive knowledge of the topic, including my hon. Friends the Members for Don Valley and Rother Valley and the hon. Members for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Strangford, and Paisley and Renfrewshire North. Before moving to the main body of remarks, I have reassured the hon. Member for Strangford that I am shortly to meet Minister Nicola Mallon to discuss many matters raised. The UK is committed to ambitious targets to reduce emissions by at least 68% by 2030 under the Paris climate agreement, and we are working on a final draft of the transport decarbonisation plan to ensure it meets our ambition without giving a specific date for publication due to ongoing work. We already have half a million ultra low emission vehicles registered with £1.3 billion of Government grants available. Nearly one in seven cars sold so far in 2021 has a plug, and drivers are never more than 25 miles away from a rapid charge point along England's motorways and A roads, with 4,450 rapid charge points and 24,000 public charge points. We have committed to spend £3 billion rolling out 4,000 zero emission buses during this Parliament and provided up to £120 million for zero emission buses, adding to the £50 million already awarded to Coventry under the all-electric bus city scheme. We are also committing £2 billion to active travel over five years, the largest amount ever committed by any Government. On electric vehicles, we aim to roll out cleaner modes of travel that are affordable and accessible to all, with an ambitious phase-out date to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030. We have developed three key policy documents for 2021: a delivery plan setting out Government commitments, funding, and milestones; an infrastructure strategy outlining the vision and action plan for charging infrastructure roll-out; and a Green Paper on our UK future CO2 emissions regulatory framework. We are already investing £950 million in future-proofing grid capacity along the strategic road network to prepare for 100% uptake of zero emission cars and vans, expecting to increase the number of high-powered chargers across the network by 2035 to 6,000. Additionally, we have a £90 million local EV infrastructure fund that will support large on-street charging schemes and potentially local rapid charging hub schemes in England, as well as the £20 million already referred to for the on-street residential charging scheme.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.