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Budget 2017: Green light for driverless car testing Hammond: Driverless cars will be on UK roads by 2021
(about 4 hours later)
The testing of driverless cars on UK roads is expected to be given the green light in Wednesday's Budget. Driverless cars could be on UK roads within three years under government plans to invest in the sector.
Chancellor Philip Hammond will announce regulation changes to allow developers to apply to test the vehicles. Chancellor Philip Hammond told the BBC the objective was to have "fully driverless cars" without a safety attendant on board in use by 2021.
Writing in the Sun, he said investment would "prepare the ground" for the cars to be on roads by 2021. "Some would say that's a bold move, but we have to embrace these technologies if we want the UK to lead the next industrial revolution," he said.
Mr Hammond is also reportedly planning to announce proposals to build 300,000 new homes in the UK a year, as well as extra money for NHS nurses' pay. However, the chancellor admitted he had yet to use a driverless car himself.
The chancellor has also promised to investigate why some developers and speculators are holding on to land instead of building on it. "I'm promised to go in one when we visit the West Midlands tomorrow," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Hammond said the government would do "whatever it takes" to fix the housing market, including underwriting loans to small house builders if necessary. Mr Hammond is due to announce regulation changes in Wednesday's Budget which will allow developers to apply to test driverless vehicles on UK roads.
Asked about the potential loss of jobs for drivers, he said the country could not "hide from change" and the government had to equip people with the skills "to take up new careers".
The chancellor is also expected to detail proposals to build 300,000 new homes in the UK a year, as well as extra money for NHS nurses' pay.
Mr Hammond's announcement comes after the UK's biggest car manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover, began testing driverless cars on public roads.Mr Hammond's announcement comes after the UK's biggest car manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover, began testing driverless cars on public roads.
The trials, which rely on sensors that allow the cars to detect traffic, pedestrians and signals, took place in Coventry city centre over several weeks.The trials, which rely on sensors that allow the cars to detect traffic, pedestrians and signals, took place in Coventry city centre over several weeks.
Jaguar said a human was on board to react to emergencies.Jaguar said a human was on board to react to emergencies.
In his article Mr Hammond said: "This was once just an inventor's dream, but it will soon become a reality.
"We can stand by and watch this happen, or we can embrace it and take full advantage of what is in front of us.
"My Budget will include plans to make Britain a world leader in this area - the best place for developers to make and road test prototype vehicles."
The government said the industry would be worth £28bn to the UK economy by 2035 and will support 27,000 jobs.The government said the industry would be worth £28bn to the UK economy by 2035 and will support 27,000 jobs.
Labour quipped that under the Tories it would not only be the cars with no-one in the driving seat.Labour quipped that under the Tories it would not only be the cars with no-one in the driving seat.
Investment in technology including artificial intelligence and 5G mobile networks will also be announced. 'Long way off'
Mr Hammond is also expected to announce: Critics have warned the technology necessary for driverless cars to succeed is a long way from being ready.
Funding for 5G technology will go towards the National Cyber Security Centre to ensure the security of the network, as well as testing on roads to help provide the network needed for driverless cars. Former Top Gear host and now Grand Tour presenter Jeremy Clarkson said he was recently in a self-driving car which made two mistakes which could have killed him in just 50miles.
Writing in the Sunday Times magazine, Mr Clarkson said the incidents convinced him the technology was still "a very long way off", adding: "For now, we're miles away from it."
In the Budget, Mr Hammond is also expected to announce:
Funding for 5G technology will go towards the National Cyber Security Centre to ensure the security of the mobile network, as well as testing on roads to help provide the network needed for driverless cars.
A further £35m will be used to give rail passengers reliable mobile connections and "lightning-speed" internet during journeys. Trials are due to begin on the Trans-Pennine route, which connects Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool.A further £35m will be used to give rail passengers reliable mobile connections and "lightning-speed" internet during journeys. Trials are due to begin on the Trans-Pennine route, which connects Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool.
Up to £20m will support companies using AI technology to develop services and £45m will be used to increase the number of PhD students studying AI to 200 per year. Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the Budget needed to show a "genuine, decisive change of course" and not "empty promises".
A further £9m will fund an advisory body to ensure safe and ethical innovation.
The government said a £400m Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund will improve access to finance for businesses to build electric car charge points and £100m will be invested in the Plug-in Car Grant to help with the cost of buying battery-electric vehicles.
A national retraining scheme will begin, with £36m invested in digital skills courses using AI.
Construction training programmes for groundworkers, bricklayers, roofers and plasterers will get £40m.
Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell wrote in the Sunday Mirror that the Budget needed to show a "genuine, decisive change of course" and not "empty promises".
He said the chancellor had an opportunity to address the consequences of his austerity programme.