Sir John Armitt, chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission, described road pricing as "inevitable" in October, but the government confirmed that such a system would not be introduced.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00UK motorists have dodged a potential four-figure rise in car taxes after the government ruled
00:07out introducing a paper-mile road pricing scheme before the autumn budget.
00:11The controversial proposal, which had sparked widespread speculation, could have seen drivers
00:16paying as much as 15 pence per mile, according to estimates by the electric car scheme.
00:20For those travelling the national average of 7,000 miles annually, this would have amounted
00:25to £1,050 a year.
00:28Concerns over the scheme gained momentum earlier this year, with leading campaign group Fairfuel
00:32UK warning a paper-mile tax was imminent.
00:35Sajan Amit, chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission, described road pricing as inevitable
00:40in October.
00:41However, the government confirmed just weeks before the budget that such a system would
00:44not be introduced, saying,
00:46"...we are committed to supporting our automotive sector as we transition to electric vehicles
00:50in order to meet our legally binding climate targets."
00:54While the immediate threat has passed, the long-term future of road pricing remains uncertain.
00:58What do you think of the paper-mile idea, and would it impact your travel habits?