Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 20 January 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 January 2003. It was answered by David Jamieson (Labour) on Thursday, 30 January 2003 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the introduction of motorway tolls, other than on the M6, on (a) reduction of congestion and (b) encouragement of use of public transport. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 23 January 2003).

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the introduction of motorway tolls, other than on the M6, on (a) reduction of congestion and (b) encouragement of use of public transport. [93103] Mr. Jamieson: holding answer 23 January 2003: The `Background Analysis' published in July 2000 as part of the Ten Year Plan For Transport contained an illustrative scenario for charges on the trunk road network by 2010 at times and places where congestion was highest. That indicated an overall reduction of 9 per cent. in congestion compared with levels in 2000, though with variations between areas, including increases of congestion in some places. The effect on public transport was not calculated. The Government's report on 'Modernising the Taxation of the Haulage Industry: Progress Report One' published in April 2002 reported analysis of a distance-based lorry road-user charge applying only to motorways, which suggested a reduction of lorry traffic of 25 per cent. on motorways but increases in congestion elsewhere.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 93103; 398 c986W;398 c980W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Large goods vehicles Public transport Motorways Road traffic Tolls
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk