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| Push towards pay-as-you-go roads | |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| The government is pushing ahead with plans to introduce road pricing schemes in England and Wales despite a huge public campaign against them. | The government is pushing ahead with plans to introduce road pricing schemes in England and Wales despite a huge public campaign against them. |
| It has published a draft Bill updating the rules for local authorities who want to set up charging trials. | |
| It insists there are no plans yet for a national scheme but critics say it is not being open about its intentions. | It insists there are no plans yet for a national scheme but critics say it is not being open about its intentions. |
| A petition against road pricing on the Downing Street website received nearly two million online signatories. | |
| Widespread road pricing is at least 10 years away technically - but 10 local authorities have expressed an interest in developing charging systems in their areas. | Widespread road pricing is at least 10 years away technically - but 10 local authorities have expressed an interest in developing charging systems in their areas. |
| 'No decision' | 'No decision' |
| The draft Local Transport Bill will ensure any local schemes are consistent with each other and interoperable. | The draft Local Transport Bill will ensure any local schemes are consistent with each other and interoperable. |
| The government must be open and honest with people about its intentions to push forward with road pricing Alistair Carmichael, Lib Dem transport spokesman Q&A: Road pricing Road toll 'stealth tax' denied | The government must be open and honest with people about its intentions to push forward with road pricing Alistair Carmichael, Lib Dem transport spokesman Q&A: Road pricing Road toll 'stealth tax' denied |
| But a Transport department spokesman said this did not mean the government was pressing ahead with a national pay-as-you-drive scheme. | |
| "No decision has been made on a national scheme. We have got to see the results of the pilot schemes," he said. | "No decision has been made on a national scheme. We have got to see the results of the pilot schemes," he said. |
| He said there would be a three month consultation period for those in favour and against road pricing to have their say before a final Bill is drawn up. | He said there would be a three month consultation period for those in favour and against road pricing to have their say before a final Bill is drawn up. |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair, in his February reply to the Downing Street website petition, also insisted no decision had been made on national road pricing. | Prime Minister Tony Blair, in his February reply to the Downing Street website petition, also insisted no decision had been made on national road pricing. |
| But he said congestion could not be allowed to grow unchecked and any scheme would not be used as a "stealth tax". | But he said congestion could not be allowed to grow unchecked and any scheme would not be used as a "stealth tax". |
| 'Cash cow' | 'Cash cow' |
| Conservative Transport Spokesman Chris Grayling said: "If the rumours about the Bill are right, it is clear that Gordon Brown has his eye on the revenue a national scheme would bring in. | |
| AREAS BIDDING FOR PILOTS Greater Bristol areaCambridge areaDurham Greater ManchesterShropshire for ShrewsburyTyne & WearWest MidlandsReadingNorwich areaNottingham, Leicester and Derby and the surrounding counties | |
| "This Bill, from Douglas Alexander, one of his key lieutenants, shows Brown's determination to introduce national road pricing is just as strong as Tony Blair's was." | |
| Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Alistair Carmichael accused the government of not being open about its plans for a nationwide scheme. | Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Alistair Carmichael accused the government of not being open about its plans for a nationwide scheme. |
| "The government must be open and honest with people about its intentions to push forward with road pricing. | "The government must be open and honest with people about its intentions to push forward with road pricing. |
| "They must commit to a system which does not mean motorists as a whole paying more, but just paying differently. | "They must commit to a system which does not mean motorists as a whole paying more, but just paying differently. |
| "If the public feel that road user pricing is just another cash cow for the Treasury, then it will meet stiff resistance and a real opportunity to reduce congestion will be missed." | "If the public feel that road user pricing is just another cash cow for the Treasury, then it will meet stiff resistance and a real opportunity to reduce congestion will be missed." |
| The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) called on the government should hold a referendum in areas where it was being planned. | The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) called on the government should hold a referendum in areas where it was being planned. |
| "Without it road charging is completely illegitimate, as it would be for a national scheme without a public vote on the issue," said Steve Collie, FSB Transport Chairman. | "Without it road charging is completely illegitimate, as it would be for a national scheme without a public vote on the issue," said Steve Collie, FSB Transport Chairman. |
| "Instead of creating more tolls and more laws the government should be enforcing current rules and spending more on the transport network," he added. | "Instead of creating more tolls and more laws the government should be enforcing current rules and spending more on the transport network," he added. |
| Bus services | Bus services |
| The main thrust of the draft Local Transport Bill concerns bus services, with local authorities given the opportunity to insist private operators run certain routes. | The main thrust of the draft Local Transport Bill concerns bus services, with local authorities given the opportunity to insist private operators run certain routes. |
| In return, the local councils will have to provide the appropriate bus lanes. | In return, the local councils will have to provide the appropriate bus lanes. |
| In London, where bus services are privatised but are still regulated, there has been a growing increase in passenger numbers in recent years. | In London, where bus services are privatised but are still regulated, there has been a growing increase in passenger numbers in recent years. |
| But outside the capital, where services have been privatised and deregulated since 1986, there has been a fall in bus patronage. | But outside the capital, where services have been privatised and deregulated since 1986, there has been a fall in bus patronage. |
| The draft Bill will fall short of proposing re-regulation for non-London services but it will give local councils - especially the big metropolitan authorities - more say in the running of buses. | The draft Bill will fall short of proposing re-regulation for non-London services but it will give local councils - especially the big metropolitan authorities - more say in the running of buses. |
| In February, 74% of the 1,006 people questioned for a BBC-commissioned survey said they were opposed to charging motorists by the mile. | In February, 74% of the 1,006 people questioned for a BBC-commissioned survey said they were opposed to charging motorists by the mile. |
| 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. |