Spring Budget 2024: PwC says transport glaringly absent, not even measures to incentivise EVs

Grant Klein, public sector transport leader at PwC, said:

“Given the Chancellor’s focus on building a high-wage, high-skills economy it was surprising that transport as a key enabler didn’t feature in the Budget. Better transport is vital for levelling up the UK. There needs to be a coherent plan, stitching together and building on the schemes announced in the Network North launch in October. Listening to stakeholders across the country, it’s clear regional level plans are needed, providing the infrastructure and transport services that give citizens a joined-up experience.

“PwC’s recent energy survey points to the desire among transport organisations to decarbonise, in part to reduce energy costs. But despite this backdrop, there are no measures in the Budget to incentivise the move to electric vehicles; in fact quite the opposite with a further freeze to the planned 5p increase in fuel duty on petrol and diesel. This is at a time when growth in EV sales has slowed and with road transport still representing 23% of all carbon emissions in the UK.”