Maritime Manifesto: Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats describe their election pledges for shipping...
Shipping remains critically important to the UK economy, carrying 92% of UK trade. The recent disruption to air travel across Europe as a result of a volcanic ash cloud has served as a timely reminder of the economic and strategic importance of shipping.
The shipping industry has faced intense commercial pressure as world trade has declined, leading to severe downward pressure on shipping rates. Sustaining the capacity of the UK fleet and associated employment is critical. The Liberal Democrats have recognised the need to provide help to businesses struggling to overcome the impact of the recession.
A key commitment in our manifesto is a £3.1 bn economic and jobs stimulus package in the first year of a Liberal Democrat government, paid for by diverting current expenditure. Our package of measures includes fully funding the off-the-job costs of adult apprenticeships, giving employers an incentive to train more people and a paid internship scheme for 800,000 people.
UK ports have faced a difficult time recently, impacted not only by reduced global trade but also by the government’s botched handling of changes to business rates levied on port operators. The changes in business rates faced by individual companies are massive and could not have been anticipated. We will waive backdated business rate bills to port occupiers relating to periods before April 2008. It is essential to waive the backdated rates bills in order to preserve existing businesses operating within ports and maintain the operational capability of the UK’s ports.
However, we believe that the role of UK ports need not be limited to supporting the existing shipping industry. Liberal Democrats believe that UK ports will play a key role in developing the infrastructure we need for a lower carbon economy.
Under our plans, port authorities on the North Sea and Irish Sea will be able to bid for a share of a £400m fund to renovate and adapt facilities in North and Irish Sea ports so they can be used to build the giant turbines needed for off-shore wind energy. New offshore turbines, with blades the size of the London Eye, need to be built and launched from modern docks, so we need to upgrade our shipyards to take advantage of this massive opportunity. We believe that the docks and shipyards along the coastline of Britain could lead the world in this new technology. Conversion of shipyards would involve upgrading to make them suitable for construction and testing of turbines and deep enough for the boats needed to transport the blades and towers to the sites of wind farms in the North and Irish seas. Many issues impacting the shipping industry have an international dimension, none more so than piracy, which can only be tackled on an international basis. The Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament supported a resolution package to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. This package sought to tackle piracy off the Horn of Africa directly by pursuing pirates on land as well at sea but also by supporting longer term peace and reconciliation in Somalia. A permanent end to piracy in this region will only be achieved by addressing the underlying problems.
The UK maritime industry, like much of the UK economy, has faced tough economic conditions over the last couple of years. However, as the most carbon-efficient form of transport, we believe that shipping will flourish in the coming years. Along with the potential for ports to play a key role in the development of the off-shore wind sector, government needs to support the whole of the maritime industry. We are committed to making sure that happens.
