Roads: Charging

Debate between Earl of Glasgow and Earl Attlee

Tuesday 1st February 2011 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Glasgow]

My Lords, in the absence of proper road pricing, can the Minister tell me what steps the Government are going to take to try to alleviate congestion, particularly on motorways and trunk roads?

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, the objective of the lorry road user charging system is purely to create a level playing field for UK hauliers who are experiencing unfair competition from foreign hauliers using cheap fuel purchased on the continent. This equates to an advantage of about 12p per mile on a maximum-weight artic.