Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
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Road Pricing
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts(7 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con)
My noble friend raises an important point about the cost of motoring. That really is top of mind for the Government. It is why we have frozen fuel duty since 2011 and had a 5p cut on fuel duty since March 2022. We recognise that for many people—particularly those in rural communities—using their car is essential, and it can be quite costly.
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)
My Lords, will the Minister assure the House that, were the Government ever minded to introduce road pricing, rural communities and those who drive on rural roads—particularly in North Yorkshire, where we have the longest transit routes for people on their way to work or pleasure—would be protected?
Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con)
As I said at the outset, the Government have no plans to consider road pricing. Therefore, I cannot give my noble friend that assurance, because it would be purely hypothetical.