Law THE GREAT TRANSPOR1
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THE LATEST round of the transport policy debate opened this week with allegations that the Government is considering plans to put up the price of road transport in a bid to transfer goods traffic to the railways.
The Shadow Minister for Transport, Mr Norman Fowler, said on Saturday that fuel tax on diesel could be increased or road fund licence rates might rise under the scheme.
He went on : "Any such increases would have to be passed on to the customer—and that is, of course, the British public. Yet the fact is that there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that there would be any significant shift to rail."
The Government is refusing to be drawn by such allegations and is still keeping its cards close to its chest. Transport Minister Dr John Gilbert avoided giving a direct yes or no answer when the reports about additional taxes were raised in the Commons.
He would only say that the consultative document now being drawn up would address itself to the proposition that all modes of transport should carry their full costs.