Select committee: Transport Committee

Recommendation 5

Third Report - Fuelling the future: motive power and connectivity Published 2 Mar 2023 Paragraph 50 Addressed to Department for Transport
Recommendation (the committee's words)
Furthermore, while long-haul aviation and international shipping are often identified as the most likely users of sustainable fuels, we believe that the Government must open-mindedly consider all alternative fuels for all modes of powered transport, including private cars.

From: Transport Committee, Third Report - Fuelling the future: motive power and connectivity (HC 159), paragraph 50, 2 March 2023

Government response

The government responded to the whole report on 15 June 2023 (deadline 2 May 2023).

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government accepts or agrees with some recommendations on charging infrastructure, HGVs, maritime and rural transport, but disagrees with those favouring plug-in hybrids, sustained non-electric cars and a broader technology approach, saying the end goal "must be zero exhaust emissions".

  • On electrification and plug-in hybrids, the government "disagrees with this recommendation", saying ZEVs are crucial to net zero and research shows EVs lower lifecycle emissions compared with plug-in hybrids.
  • On sustainable fuels, it "recognises the merit" in drop-in fuels but does not agree the legislative framework is misleading; it will set out a low carbon fuels strategy "later this year".
  • It agrees to publish its Future of Transport Rural Strategy and "will look to do so in the coming months", and agrees to publish a long-term HGV decarbonisation strategy.
  • On rail, it "partially agrees": Great British Railways Transition Team will bring forward costed options for consideration "before any plan can be developed".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error