1 Tories back lorry road user charging scheme
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THIS WEEK
P ELECTION 2010
steve.hobsonfdrbi.co.uk THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY has said it will introduce a lorry road-user charging scheme for foreign and British trucks over 12 tonnes.
Speaking at a roundtable debate for ars sister title Motor Transport. sponsored by Frakin, Robert Goodwill (pictured), the Conservative shadow transport minister, said such a scheme was necessary in order to create a level playing field between domestic and foreign operators.
Goodwill stated: "We have made a commitment to look at the possibilities of a lorry road-user charging scheme in the UK, which we would link to a rebate on fuel for domestic trucks that would be largely revenueneutral for the operators."
He continued: "We have rising numbers of foreign trucks using our roads: that presents a problem of unfair competition. We also have a problem of tax bleed in that we are losing around £400m a year, which should be coming to the British Exchequer, but is going to Paris, Brussels and Luxemburg.
"A scheme of this sort will level the playing field for domestic operators and will mean foreign vehicles pay a fair contribution to the Exchequer."
Goodwill added that the Tories had floated the idea of a fuel-price stabiliser. so when oil prices go up, there would be a cut in tax.
Earlier this month, the Liberal Democrats tabled an Early Day Motion that called for foreign trucks to only be allowed to bring 100 litres of fuel into the UK, hut Goodwill was dismissive of such proposals, "I think that is against EU rules and it is a typical Lib Dem opportunist press release."
He added: "If you are a serious party of opposition, you can't come up with ideas that are shot down so easily."
The Committee of Public Accounts also recommended earlier this month that the Department for Transport should work with the Treasury in order to find a way of charging foreign lorries for using our roads.
• To read the full roundtable debate, see Motor Transport on Monday 29 March.