Select Committee · Transport Committee

Road pricing

Status: Closed Opened: 13 Oct 2021 Closed: 6 Mar 2023 12 recommendations 5 conclusions 1 report

We launched an inquiry into road pricing in December 2020 to explore several issues: The case for introducing some form of road pricing and the economic, fiscal, environmental and social impacts of doing so; Which particular road pricing or pay-as-you-drive schemes would be most appropriate for the UK context and the practicalities of implementing such … Show more

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Road pricing HC 789 4 Feb 2022 17 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

17 items
1 Conclusion Fourth Report - Road pricing Accepted

Fuel duty and vehicle excise duty raise some £35 billion a year.

Fuel duty and vehicle excise duty raise some £35 billion a year. Approximately 20% of that revenue is disbursed on maintaining and developing the roads. Neither fuel duty nor vehicle excise duty are currently levied on electric vehicles. The Government is phasing out the sale of petrol and diesel cars … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that it will ensure the tax system encourages EV uptake, revenue from motoring taxes keep pace, and that electric cars, vans, and motorcycles will pay Vehicle Excise Duty from 2025.
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Department for Transport
2 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Accepted

The Government must start an honest conversation with the public on the funding implications for...

The Government must start an honest conversation with the public on the funding implications for road development and maintenance and for other essential public services of decreased revenue from vehicle excise duty and fuel duty.

Government response AI summary
The government states that it will ensure the tax system encourages EV uptake, revenue from motoring taxes keep pace, and that electric cars, vans, and motorcycles will pay Vehicle Excise Duty from 2025.
Read full response →
Department for Transport
3 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Rejected

To promote fairness and public acceptance, any alternative road charging mechanism must (a) entirely replace...

To promote fairness and public acceptance, any alternative road charging mechanism must (a) entirely replace fuel duty and vehicle excise duty rather than being added alongside those taxes; and (b) be revenue neutral with most motorists paying the same or less than they do currently. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it does not have further views on the committee's recommendations regarding the ways road pricing should be considered.
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Department for Transport
4 Conclusion Fourth Report - Road pricing Accepted

Zero fuel duty and vehicle excise duty help motorists to offset the higher purchase price...

Zero fuel duty and vehicle excise duty help motorists to offset the higher purchase price of electric vehicles compared with petrol and diesel alternatives. Those prices are predicted to decrease as sales of new and second-hand electric vehicles increase. As prices decrease, more motorists will purchase electric vehicles, which will … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that it will ensure the tax system encourages EV uptake, revenue from motoring taxes keep pace, and that electric cars, vans, and motorcycles will pay Vehicle Excise Duty from 2025.
Read full response →
Department for Transport
5 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Acknowledged

In signalling a shift to any alternative road charging mechanism, the Government must make it...

In signalling a shift to any alternative road charging mechanism, the Government must make it clear to motorists who purchase electric vehicles that they will be required to pay for road usage, as is currently the case for petrol and diesel vehicles. It must ensure that any alternative road charging … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the need to ensure the tax system encourages EV uptake and that revenue from motoring taxes keeps pace, while remaining affordable. They highlight that electric cars, vans, and motorcycles will pay Vehicle Excise Duty in the same way as petrol and diesel …
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Department for Transport
6 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Rejected

In designing a replacement for fuel duty and vehicle excise duty, the Government must examine...

In designing a replacement for fuel duty and vehicle excise duty, the Government must examine how an alternative road pricing mechanism can use price as a lever for change while subjecting motorists to fair levels of taxation. To that end, it may seek to make concessions in the interests of … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government does not have further views on the Committee’s recommendations for the ways in which road pricing should be considered.
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Department for Transport
7 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Not Addressed

The introduction of an alternative road charging mechanism that supported motoring and motorists might work...

The introduction of an alternative road charging mechanism that supported motoring and motorists might work against the Government’s ambition for half of all journeys in towns and cities to be walked or cycled by 2030. In designing an alternative road pricing mechanism to vehicle excise duty and fuel duty, the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Government states it does not have further views on the Committee’s recommendations.
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Department for Transport
8 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Not Addressed

The Government must set out a range of options to replace fuel duty and vehicle...

The Government must set out a range of options to replace fuel duty and vehicle excise duty. Those options should be revenue neutral and not cause drivers, as a whole, to pay more than they do currently. One of those options should be a road pricing mechanism that uses telematic … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government does not currently have plans to consider road pricing, reiterating their 2019 manifesto commitment.
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Department for Transport
9 Conclusion Fourth Report - Road pricing Not Addressed

The taxes imposed by fuel duty and vehicle excise duty are increasingly duplicated by local...

The taxes imposed by fuel duty and vehicle excise duty are increasingly duplicated by local schemes that charge motorists for entering congestion zones and clean air zones. New taxes, and particularly those that rely on new technology, take many years to introduce. The patchwork of devolved schemes may make it … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government does not currently have plans to consider road pricing, reiterating their 2019 manifesto commitment.
Read full response →
Department for Transport
10 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Not Addressed

The Government must examine how an alternative road pricing mechanism can be delivered alongside devolved...

The Government must examine how an alternative road pricing mechanism can be delivered alongside devolved local road charging schemes, while respecting the existing devolution settlement. Any alternative road pricing mechanism must be revenue neutral to the Government rather than causing drivers, as a whole, to pay more than they do … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government has not provided any views on the committee's recommendation regarding an alternative road pricing mechanism.
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Department for Transport
11 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Not Addressed

The Government must examine the role that telematic technology can play in delivering a replacement...

The Government must examine the role that telematic technology can play in delivering a replacement road pricing mechanism that sets the cost of motoring based on the duration and time of the journey and vehicle type and size.

Government response AI summary
The government has not provided any views on the committee's recommendation regarding the use of telematic technology for road pricing.
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Department for Transport
12 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Not Addressed

The Government must assess the potential effect of telematic technology on changing drivers’ behaviour and...

The Government must assess the potential effect of telematic technology on changing drivers’ behaviour and delivering its wider policies on air quality, congestion, public transport and public health.

Government response AI summary
The government's response does not address the recommendation, instead stating it has no further views on how road pricing should be considered.
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Department for Transport
13 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Not Addressed

The Government must assess the potential effect of a road pricing mechanism based on telematic...

The Government must assess the potential effect of a road pricing mechanism based on telematic technology on high-mileage drivers, such as road hauliers and those in rural communities, and on those least able to adapt to increased motoring costs.

Government response AI summary
The government does not have further views on the Committee’s recommendations for the ways in which road pricing should be considered.
Read full response →
Department for Transport
14 Conclusion Fourth Report - Road pricing Not Addressed

The successful implementation of a national, technology-based road pricing scheme is contingent on the Government...

The successful implementation of a national, technology-based road pricing scheme is contingent on the Government explaining how data capture will work in practice, ensuring that data management is subject to rigorous governance and oversight and reassuring the public that their privacy will be protected. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government does not have further views on the Committee’s recommendations for the ways in which road pricing should be considered.
Read full response →
Department for Transport
15 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Not Addressed

The Government must work on a cross-departmental basis to ensure that equal focus and policy...

The Government must work on a cross-departmental basis to ensure that equal focus and policy ownership is placed on the delivery of more zero emission vehicles and the continued funding and maintenance of the road network. The Treasury and the DfT should set up a joint unit including Ministers and … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government has not provided any views on the committee's recommendation regarding cross-departmental collaboration on zero emission vehicles and road network funding.
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Department for Transport
16 Conclusion Fourth Report - Road pricing Not Addressed

Bearing in mind the partial devolution of transport policy, consultation and agreement between the UK...

Bearing in mind the partial devolution of transport policy, consultation and agreement between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations will be key to developing and implementing an alternative road charging mechanism.

Government response AI summary
The government does not have further views on the Committee’s recommendations for the ways in which road pricing should be considered.
Read full response →
Department for Transport
17 Recommendation Fourth Report - Road pricing Not Addressed

To fulfil their respective and connected responsibilities for managing congestion and maintaining the public finances,...

To fulfil their respective and connected responsibilities for managing congestion and maintaining the public finances, the DfT and the Treasury must jointly establish an arm’s-length body with an appointed individual to evaluate its preferred options to replace fuel duty and vehicle excise duty [see paragraph 26]. The body should consult … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government does not have further views on the Committee’s recommendations for the ways in which road pricing should be considered.
Read full response →
Department for Transport

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
20 Oct 2021 Alistair Hunter · Arup, Dr Nina Skorupska CBE · The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, Duncan Buchanan · Road Haulage Association, John Siraut · Jacobs, Mike Williams · HM Treasury, Professor Phillip Goodwin · Foundation for Integrated Transport, Steve Gooding · RAC Foundation, Toby Poston · British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) View ↗

Who gave evidence

8 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alistair Hunter · Highways Business Leader Arup 1
Dr Nina Skorupska CBE · Chief Executive The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology 1
Duncan Buchanan · Director of Policy Road Haulage Association 1
John Siraut · Director of Economics Jacobs 1
Mike Williams · Director, Business and International Tax HM Treasury 1
Professor Phillip Goodwin · Senior Fellow Foundation for Integrated Transport 1
Steve Gooding · Director RAC Foundation 1
Toby Poston · Chief Executive Officer British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) 1