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Softly softly does it on tolls
Page 6
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UK government to learn from German mistakes. Chris Tindall reports.
THE TREASURY HAS emphasised that it is taking its time over the implementation of the Lon-y Road User Charge (LRUC) in light of the political and financial disaster created by Germany's system.
The various government departments charged with rolling out the system by 2006 announced at a meeting with the industry this week that a basic model of the LRUC has been agreed. But the telematics sector now must match the government's plans with what it is able to deliver.
The Treasury adds that it is monitoring the situation in Germany "very closely".
This follows the news last week that the LKW-Maut, the German motorway truck toll, has been delayed yet again due to a failure of the charging equipment (CM 9 October).
A spokesman for the German haulage association BGL says it will be at least another six months before Maut is up and running.
Simon Chapman, chief economist at the Freight Transport Association, says lessons will be learnt from Maut. He adds: "The [German] government has had a lot of back-room problems with the system. It's not just a technical problem, it's a political one."
Referring to the complaints by the Scottish National Party that any revenue raised by the LRUC will go to the Treasury rather than the Scottish Executive, Chapman says:"It's money they never had in the first place! The levels of charging remain a matter for HMTreasury rather than being devolved to each part of the UK."
Roger King, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, hopes a presentation to ministers outlining the workings of the system will take place before the end of the year.
A Treasury spokesman adds: "It's not something that's being rushed. We will not progress to the next level until we hit each of the milestones. Provided we hit our milestones we will avoid the pitfalls."
• See page 22 for details of the German system's problems.