This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6340183.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
MSPs to debate road bridge tolls 'Rebel' MSPs in toll scrap call
(about 3 hours later)
The SNP has demanded the abolition of tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges in a debate at the Scottish Parliament. Labour and Liberal Democrat MSPs from the east coast of Scotland have spoken out against bridge tolls.
The party wants to see the charges removed and has called for the debate to "end the discrimination" against the east of Scotland. The SNP has demanded the abolition of charges on the Forth and Tay bridges, but the Scottish Executive said the move could make congestion worse.
It has put forward a motion calling for the removal of the tolls on both of the road bridges. Rebel Fife MSP Scott Barrie told parliament he had resigned as Labour whip to speak out against the tolls.
SNP Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Tricia Marwick has urged Labour and Liberal MSPs to support the motion. However, Transport Minister Tavish Scott said that the SNP was ignoring environmental concerns.
She said: "I challenge Labour and Liberal members who say that they want the tolls abolished to vote in support of abolishing Forth and Tay tolls - it's time for them to put their money where their mouth is. The Nationalists brought the Holyrood debate to "end the discrimination" against the east of Scotland, putting forward a motion calling for the removal of tolls on the two road bridges.
"Since the removal of the tolls on the Skye and Erskine bridges there has been a seething resentment in Fife, Tayside, the Lothians and their surrounding areas about the unfairness of tolls being retained on the Forth and Tay Road bridges." Mr Barrie, Labour MSP for Dunfermline West, said he was unable to support an executive motion seeking to link retention of tolls with the case for a new Forth crossing.
It is unfair and inequitable that the people of Fife and Tayside should pay a toll tax that applies nowhere else in Scotland National Alliance Against Tolls "I believe absolutely, fundamentally, tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges should be removed," he said.
She added: "This issue goes beyond simple party politics and it is time for those who support the removal of the last two bridge tolls in Scotland to start acting together to achieve justice and fairness for the people of Scotland." The tolls have had their day and today this Parliament should make it clear that they must go Murdo FraserScottish Conservatives
MSP Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative's deputy leader and enterprise spokesman, said the tolls had had their day and on Thursday the parliament should make it clear that they must go. The scrapping of tolls on the Skye and Erskine bridges in the west have prompted SNP to claim that continuing tolls in the east has led to resentment in that part of the country.
"There can no longer be any justification for these tolls, which are a unique form of taxation on the people of Fife and the east of Scotland," he said. Mr Scott said that, based on interviews with employers and the public sector in Dundee, Fife and Lothians, the financial level of the tolls were not a major concern.
"We do not object in principle to the idea of tolls being paid by travellers. Indeed, the principle of a Road Pricing Scheme is one which many in our party would find attractive. "Of much more concern is the issue of increasing traffic levels, increasing congestion and, of course, the separate issue of the viability of the Forth Road Bridge crossing," he told MSPs.
"But if that is the principle we are going to apply it should be applied equally in all parts of the country." He went on: "Removing these tolls increases congestion, which increases emissions, which increases our impact upon the global environment. The SNP are in denial about that."
'Boost tourism 'Cynical ploy'
The National Alliance Against Tolls has urged all parties to support the SNPs motion. Helen Eadie, Labour MSP for Dunfermline East, who claimed that businesses were staying away from Fife because of the tolls, said she would back the SNP.
A spokesperson for the group said: "It is unfair and inequitable that the people of Fife and Tayside should pay a toll tax that applies nowhere else in Scotland. "I have campaigned all my political life to have these tolls removed because I believe it's the right thing to do," she said.
"If these two tolls are removed then Scotland will be free of tolls. This will boost tourism and increase the number of businesses relocating to Scotland." Liberal Democrat Iain Smith, MSP for North East Fife, said he would also vote with the Nationalists.
The Scottish Greens have called for "smart charging" as an alternative to the tolls with reduced costs for multi-occupancy vehicles at peak times. But Mid Scotland and Fife SNP MSP Tricia Marwick accused Labour and the Lib Dems of a "cynical ploy" in allowing Fife MSPs to vote in favour of the SNP motion.
They had calculated that, with the support of the Greens, they would still win the vote on the issue, she claimed.
Ms Marwick added: "The toll money has been used since 1995 as the cash cow to fund transport projects which should be the responsibility of government."
The Scottish Greens have called for a car sharing programmeThe Scottish Greens have called for a car sharing programme
This, they said would encourage people to car share and use public transport. Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser described the tolls as "a unique form of taxation on the people of Fife and the east of Scotland".
Transport Minister Tavish Scott has expressed concerns about the cost of ending tolls, both in terms of cash and increased congestion. The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP added: "The tolls have had their day and today this parliament should make it clear that they must go."
He said: "We need to look closely at how we tackle the congestion on the Forth Road Bridge. Green MSP Mark Ballard argued for an alternative form of charges.
"The peaks are lengthening, there are more and more people going across the Forth Road Bridge and people need to ask themselves what would happen if the tolls were removed. The Lothians member said smart tolls - where vehicles travelling at peak periods are charged more and those with several passengers pay less - should be considered.
"The answer is there would be even more congestion. Is that good news for the Fife economy? I don't think it is." SSP leader Colin Fox also spoke against the charges.
The National Alliance Against Tolls urged all parties to support the SNP motion.
A spokesperson for the group said: "It is unfair and inequitable that the people of Fife and Tayside should pay a toll tax that applies nowhere else in Scotland."