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| Trials have been approved for drones to deliver medical supplies |
Drones could soon be used to deliver urgent medical supplies, the transport secretary announced today.
Grant Shapps said trials of the devices had been ‘fast-tracked’ due to the ‘urgent need’, adding that he hoped they would aid the response to COVID-19.
The trial will begin next week to courier items from Southampton to St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight.
Speaking at the daily press briefing on Friday (April 24), Mr Shapps said: "I’ve given the green light to trials of drones to deliver medical supplies.
"Earlier this year we awarded £28 million to Southampton and Portsmouth to deliver a future transport zone.
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| Grant Shapps announced a new transport package at the daily press briefing on Friday |
"As part of that initiative, £8 million was earmarked for testing drones and how they might be used to deliver goods in the years and decades ahead.
"Now we have an urgent need so we're making use of that testing programme as part of our response to COVID-19.
"I’ve fast-tracked trials to begin next week to carry equipment and supplies to St Mary’s Hospital near Newport on the Isle of Wight."
This came as Mr Shapps announced a new package of measures to ensure transport 'boosts our national response' to coronavirus.
Essential freight services will be aided by £17m for critical routes between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Up to £10.5m will also be spent on ferry and freight services to the Isle of Wight and the Scilly Isles.
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The funding will also provide support for routes between Britain and the European mainland.
“Essential supplies are continuing to flow well, but operators are facing challenges as fewer people travelling means less capacity to move goods", Mr Shapps said.
“Today’s action will help ensure all parts of the UK have the capacity they need and, following on from our action to support the rail and bus sectors, it shows how this Government is acting to protect the transport links the country relies on.
“Now more than ever we need to work closely together, and the new Transport Support Unit stands ready to help our frontline staff and deliver crucial supplies.”
The transport secretary paid tribute to the work of transport workers who have gone 'above and beyond to keep vital freight and passenger services running'.
He added: “The actions I have announced today will ensure that transport can continue to serve the nation during this crisis, keep us supplied with everything we need to stay at home, yet also ensure that infrastructure required to emerge from this pandemic stands ready to serve us all when that time does arise.”
He also confirmed there are 'no British holidaymakers stranded on cruise ships anywhere in the world'.
