Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Transport Minister Reveals Billion Pound Plans to Support Logistics Welcomed by Freight Lobby Group

Money Available to Improve Scottish Road and Rail Sectors
Shipping News Feature
UK – The logistics sector is set to benefit after the announcement last week of a £5 billion investment package by the Scottish government. £1.7 billion of the cash has been promised for spending on transport infrastructure, including £93 million to dual the A9 and £207 million on a major rail electrification programme. The news, revealed by Michael Matheson MPS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity for the Scottish Government, was welcomed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

Matheson will have the opportunity to put some flesh on the bones when he delivers the keynote speech at the FTA’s Logistics Scotland conference, taking place on 30 May 2019 in Falkirk, but speaking at the launch of the expenditure package, Matheson confirmed that investment in 2019-20 will support ‘Scottish government-procured projects with a value of almost £3.1 billion estimated to be in construction across Scotland in 2019-20’.

Other speakers at the FTA’s one day conference include representatives of Transport Scotland, Network Rail, Scottish Business Resilience Centre and the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership, who will debate key issues facing the sector, including international connectivity, transport network development, skills shortages, urban access restrictions and the best way to de-carbonise industry. An FTA spokesperson said:

“Logistics Scotland 2019 will give business leaders from across the sector an exciting opportunity to discuss and debate the issues of the day, as well as identifying areas for growth and development among themselves and with the panel of expert speakers assembled for the event. FTA’s relationships with industry influencers are second to none, and the line-up of speakers and topics under discussion we have assembled will provide a comprehensive overview of our ever-changing marketplace. This is one event that logistics leaders in Scotland cannot afford to miss.”

The FTA Scottish logistics conference is open to members and non-members with registration via this link.

Photo: Michael Matheson MPS.