Very interesting article based around the results of a select commons commitee.

Public trust needs to be rebuilt in the wake of a lack of faith in how road tax is spent, according to a transport select committee report out today.

The committee said the government “must improve the way in which it justifies taxes on road users to rebuild public trust”.

MPs warned road investment should be justified only on wider transport objectives, need and benefits. In a statement they said they: “Reject the notion of hypothecation for transport taxes, arguing it provides a poor basis for public expenditure decisions and ignores the social costs associated with road use-policing, accidents, pollution and carbon emissions.”

They also said there was a “case for earmarking revenue from specific local schemes for spending in a given geographical area when such an approach will earn public acceptability and help ensure fairness”.

Committee chairman Louise Ellman MP said: “The government handled a phased set of increases to vehicle excise duty so badly they tarnished the image of environmental taxes.

“We believe taxation based on car usage-through fuel duty-remains fairer than any approach based on car ownership and does more to encourage fuel efficiency or reduce CO2 emissions.

“We recognise that economic factors will limit how much revenue can be raised by this method. We call on the government to develop other measures to address the problem of congestion.”

via Drivers don’t trust reasons for road tax|inthenews.co.uk.

At last there seems to be some recognition that the Road Transport industry is both heavily legislated and seen as a cash cow to the government.

Last year I wrote on my blog about the changes in revenue for the Dartford Crossing (QEII bridge). That the revenue poured straight into the governments coffers and nothing was set aside for the local area where the effects of the traffic are felt. It seems slowly the public are waking up to the fact that the UK transport industry funds a lot of things not related to transport.

When the environmental figures are bandied about the pollutive effects of the Motor Industry is quoted from 15 to 25% of emissions, yet the revenue generated from so called environmental road tax is far higher and certainly not in proportion.

It’s nice to see a report that outlines the green washing by the Government and feels that people have had enough of it. Lets hope they have had enough to the point that something will be done thats fairer and supportive of our courier and transport industry, after all they deliver the goods to your doorstep…

Sarah

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• Drivers ‘don’t trust’ road taxes – BBC News
• Further M25 upgrade confirmed (telegraph.co.uk)