Submission to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee inquiry on batteries

March 2021     HOUSE OF LORDS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE INQUIRY ROLE OF BATTERIES AND FUEL CELLS IN ACHIEVING NET ZERO RESPONSE FROM THE RAILWAY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (RIA)

1. INTRODUCTION   This submission constitutes the response from the Railway Industry Association (RIA) to the House of Lords Science & Technology Committee into the role of batteries and fuel cells.   2.

BACKGROUND TO RIA 2.1 RIA is the trade association for UK-based suppliers to the UK and world-wide railways. It has some 300 companies in membership covering all aspects of rolling stock and infrastructure supply and a diverse range of products and services. As well as most of the larger, multi-national companies, 60% of RIA's membership base is comprised of SMEs. 2.2 The Oxford Economics 2018 report shows that the UK rail sector contributes annually over £36bn Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy, employs some 600,000 people and generates £11bn in tax revenues. For every £1 spent on rail, £2.20 of income is generated in the wider economy, meaning rail is not just an important sector in its own right, but it is also crucial for UK plc, its economy and connectivity. 2.3 Rail has been a growing industry with the number of rail journeys expected to double in the next 25 years, along with significant growth in rail freight traffic, regardless of shocks such as the present Coronavirus crisis. The full Oxford Economics report can be accessed here. 2.4 The Oxford Economics report also highlights the fact that the UK rail industry is a significant exporter, selling £800 million in goods and services abroad each year, whilst the European rail trade body UNIFE’s recently-released World Rail Market Study report predicts annual rail market growth of between 1 and 2.3% until 2025, when an annual volume of approximately €240bn per annum could be expected. 2.5 RIA provides its members with extensive services, including: • Representation of the supply industry's interests to Government, Network Rail (NR), TfL, HS2, ORR and other key stakeholders; • Opportunities for dialogue and networking between members, including several Special and Technical Interest Groups;  • Supply chain improvement initiatives; • Provision of technical, commercial and political information every week; • Export promotional activity, through briefings, overseas rail trade missions, hosting of inwards visits; and • Organising UK presence at rail exhibitions overseas on GREAT branded UK Pavilions.  2.6 RIA recognises that equality, diversity, and inclusion drive innovation, financial performance and success. Together with Women in Rail, RIA is promoting an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter for Rail, which has the potential to support social mobility, grow UK STEM skills, create local opportunities, and increase the talent pool from which the future leadership of the rail sector will be drawn. 1/6