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No decision on road tolls - Blair No decision on road tolls - Blair
(30 minutes later)
No decision on national road pricing has yet been made, Tony Blair has said in his e-mail to the 1.8m signatories of the petition opposing a toll scheme.No decision on national road pricing has yet been made, Tony Blair has said in his e-mail to the 1.8m signatories of the petition opposing a toll scheme.
He says the debate is about tackling congestion and not an effort to introduce a "stealth tax" on motorists.He says the debate is about tackling congestion and not an effort to introduce a "stealth tax" on motorists.
Funds raised by pilot schemes would be spent on local transport, he added.Funds raised by pilot schemes would be spent on local transport, he added.
The prime minister's reply will be sent to the 1,792,116 people who signed the petition on the Downing Street website before it closed at midnight.The prime minister's reply will be sent to the 1,792,116 people who signed the petition on the Downing Street website before it closed at midnight.
Downing Street has stressed the plans should not be viewed as an automatic step towards a national strategy.
I fully accept that we don't have all the answers yet Tony BlairPrime Minister Blair e-mail in fullI fully accept that we don't have all the answers yet Tony BlairPrime Minister Blair e-mail in full
In his e-mail, the prime minister said the government was working with local authorities in certain areas to trial road charges. It was set up by Peter Roberts, a 46-year-old account manager from Telford, Shropshire, and says tolls are "sinister and wrong" and unfair to poorer people.
"Any schemes would teach us more about how road pricing would work and inform decisions on a national scheme," said Mr Blair, who added that "funds raised from these local schemes will be used to improve transport in those areas". It appears on a section of Downing Street's website set up in November to allow anyone to address and deliver a petition directly to the prime minister and calls for the scrapping of "planned vehicle tracking and road-pricing policy".
The prime minister went on: "I fully accept that we don't have all the answers yet. 'Bad for business'
'Sinister and wrong' In his e-mail response, the prime minister said: "Congestion is a major problem to which there is a no easy answer.
"That is why we are not rushing headlong into a national road pricing scheme." "Let me be clear straight away: we have not made any decision about national road pricing. Indeed we are simply not yet in a position to do so."
He stressed that "congestion is a major problem to which there is a no easy answer".
A BBC-commissioned poll found nearly 75% of people are opposed to the idea of charging motorists by the mile.
The cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system Peter Roberts E-petitions and democracyThe cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system Peter Roberts E-petitions and democracy
The petition, which appears on a section of Downing Street's website set up in November to allow anyone to address and deliver a petition directly to the prime minister, says tolls are "sinister and wrong" and unfair to poorer people. But he said that allowing congestion to grow unchecked "would be bad for businesses, individuals and the environment", costing an extra £22bn in wasted time in England by 2025.
It calls for the scrapping of "planned vehicle tracking and road-pricing policy" and was so popular that at one point it crashed the website. He goes on to say: "I know many people's biggest worry about road pricing is that it will be a 'stealth tax' on motorists. It won't. Road pricing is about tackling congestion."
Tony Blair's spokesman said the government would press ahead with 10 road pricing pilot schemes in 10 locations around the country. He said local schemes would "teach us more about how road pricing would work and inform decisions on a national scheme", adding that "funds raised from these local schemes will be used to improve transport in those areas".
He added that congestion was predicted to rise by 40% by 2025. "Doing nothing is not an option," he said. On Tuesday, Mr Blair's spokesman said the government would press ahead with 10 road-pricing pilot schemes in 10 locations around the country.
Plans to introduce a nationwide "pay-as-you-drive" system were unveiled by former Transport Secretary Alistair Darling in 2005.Plans to introduce a nationwide "pay-as-you-drive" system were unveiled by former Transport Secretary Alistair Darling in 2005.
His successor, Douglas Alexander, has since suggested that road pricing could be brought in within a decade.His successor, Douglas Alexander, has since suggested that road pricing could be brought in within a decade.
The Downing Street spokesman's comments came as the results of a BBC-commissioned poll were revealed in which 74% of people said they were opposed to charging motorists by the mile. The e-mail comes after 74% of the 1,006 people questioned for a BBC-commissioned survey said they were opposed to charging motorists by the mile.
HAVE YOUR SAY We should beat congestion by making it viable for more staff to work from home Peter, Croydon Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY We should beat congestion by making it viable for more staff to work from home Peter, Croydon Send us your comments
But 55% of those spoken to said they would change their minds and support such a scheme if the money raised was used to improve public transport.But 55% of those spoken to said they would change their minds and support such a scheme if the money raised was used to improve public transport.
More than 25% said nothing would make the policy acceptable to them.More than 25% said nothing would make the policy acceptable to them.
Those most in favour of a charging system were 18 to 24-year-olds with 28% of those asked saying the government should introduce one.Those most in favour of a charging system were 18 to 24-year-olds with 28% of those asked saying the government should introduce one.
The man who started the petition, Peter Roberts, a 46-year-old account manager from Telford, said the poll was more evidence that people were wary of road charges. Mr Roberts said the poll was more evidence that people were wary of road charges.
He also said investment should be made in the transport network without a road-charging scheme.He also said investment should be made in the transport network without a road-charging scheme.
"Road pricing as an idea has got some merit," he said."Road pricing as an idea has got some merit," he said.
"But the cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system"."But the cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system".
ROAD PRICING VIEWS Which if any, of the following, would make the policy acceptable to you? Total % If money raised was used to improve public transport... 424 55 If money raised was used to cut other road taxes... 407 53 If the money went to the treasury... 56 7 Nothing would make that policy acceptable to me... 202 26 Based on responses of 768 people Source: ICM survey commissioned by the BBCROAD PRICING VIEWS Which if any, of the following, would make the policy acceptable to you? Total % If money raised was used to improve public transport... 424 55 If money raised was used to cut other road taxes... 407 53 If the money went to the treasury... 56 7 Nothing would make that policy acceptable to me... 202 26 Based on responses of 768 people Source: ICM survey commissioned by the BBC
Full research findings [86k] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereFull research findings [86k] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here