Westminster Diary - 22nd February 2007

Thursday, 22nd February 2007

The idea of paying for motoring by the mile driven instead of via a tax disc is controversial, as the government found recently, when negative feedback overloaded the Downing Street website set up to receive views on the subject.

The argument for so called road pricing is simple – in order to reduce the carbon emissions generated by traffic, we should reward those who drive less and penalise those who drive more.

I do not rule it out, but I have two problems with the idea.

The first is that the case for road pricing is based substantially on the premise that the current tax system does not reflect car use as opposed to car ownership. This is not entirely true. Most of the price we pay for petrol goes to the Exchequer in tax and petrol consumption is clearly and directly linked to distance driven.

The second is that road pricing is too blunt an instrument.

Any such system must be capable of distinguishing between those who drive, perhaps long distances, because they have no other choice, and those who take the car when they could take alternative, greener means of transport.

Most obviously in the former group are those who live in rural areas where public transport is minimal or non-existent, who may have a considerable distance to travel to the nearest local amenities. Village shops and, as we know, post offices are becoming increasingly sparse.

If we increase penalties on driving we must also make it easier to travel in other ways.

It is often the last part of the journey to work – the slow progress through the town or city traffic – which is the most environmentally damaging.

So, alongside better public transport, why not have more park and drive schemes? Many people have no choice but to use their car for part of their journey, but we could provide a better option for the rest of it.

Taxing people out of their cars may be desirable, but there should be practical and affordable alternatives available first.

---

Updated on Thursday, 22nd February 2007