Commenting on today’s Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review announcements Tim Morris, CEO of the UK Major Ports Group, said:

“The inclusion of further funding for green maritime in today’s Budget, whilst welcome relative to previous commitments, is unlikely to support the step change required to meet the Governments rhetoric and the sector’s ambitions. Elsewhere some of the general proposals on Business Rates reform around incentivising investment are in line with what ports have been calling for and the announcement of the commencement of tax zone status for freeports in the Humber, the Thames and Teesside maintains momentum. But what we lack is a comprehensive vision for coastal regions, both as the U.K.’s main gateways for trade and as areas with their own distinct opportunities and challenges. ”

About the UK Major Ports Group

The UK Major Ports Group is the trade body for the UK’s major port operators. It represents nine of the top ten port operators in UK. Our members collectively handle 75% of the UK’s port volumes through 40 ports. These include the largest ports in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. UKMPG members together already invest around £500 million per year in the UK’s ports and related infrastructure.

Current UKMPG members are Associated British Ports, Belfast Harbour Commissioners, The Bristol Port Company, DP World , Forth Ports, Hutchison Ports UK, PD Ports, Peel Ports and the Port of London Authority.

For more information please see http://ukmajorports.org.uk/.