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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| No decision on road tolls - Blair | No decision on road tolls - Blair |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| No decision on national road pricing has yet been made, Tony Blair has said in his e-mail to the 1.8m signatories of the petition opposing a toll scheme. | No decision on national road pricing has yet been made, Tony Blair has said in his e-mail to the 1.8m signatories of the petition opposing a toll scheme. |
| He says the debate is about tackling congestion and not an effort to introduce a "stealth tax" on motorists. | He says the debate is about tackling congestion and not an effort to introduce a "stealth tax" on motorists. |
| Funds raised by pilot schemes would be spent on local transport, he added. | Funds raised by pilot schemes would be spent on local transport, he added. |
| The prime minister's reply will be sent to the 1,792,116 people who signed the petition on the Downing Street website before it closed at midnight. | The prime minister's reply will be sent to the 1,792,116 people who signed the petition on the Downing Street website before it closed at midnight. |
| I fully accept that we don't have all the answers yet Tony BlairPrime Minister Blair e-mail in full | I fully accept that we don't have all the answers yet Tony BlairPrime Minister Blair e-mail in full |
| It was set up by Peter Roberts, a 46-year-old account manager from Telford, Shropshire, who says tolls are "sinister and wrong" and unfair to poorer people. | |
| It appears on a section of Downing Street's website set up in November to allow anyone to address and deliver a petition directly to the prime minister and calls for the scrapping of "planned vehicle tracking and road-pricing policy". | It appears on a section of Downing Street's website set up in November to allow anyone to address and deliver a petition directly to the prime minister and calls for the scrapping of "planned vehicle tracking and road-pricing policy". |
| 'Bad for business' | 'Bad for business' |
| In his e-mail response, the prime minister said: "Congestion is a major problem to which there is a no easy answer. | In his e-mail response, the prime minister said: "Congestion is a major problem to which there is a no easy answer. |
| "Let me be clear straight away: we have not made any decision about national road pricing. Indeed we are simply not yet in a position to do so." | "Let me be clear straight away: we have not made any decision about national road pricing. Indeed we are simply not yet in a position to do so." |
| The cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system Peter Roberts E-petitions and democracy | The cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system Peter Roberts E-petitions and democracy |
| But he said that allowing congestion to grow unchecked "would be bad for businesses, individuals and the environment", costing an extra £22bn in wasted time in England by 2025. | But he said that allowing congestion to grow unchecked "would be bad for businesses, individuals and the environment", costing an extra £22bn in wasted time in England by 2025. |
| He goes on to say: "I know many people's biggest worry about road pricing is that it will be a 'stealth tax' on motorists. It won't. Road pricing is about tackling congestion." | He goes on to say: "I know many people's biggest worry about road pricing is that it will be a 'stealth tax' on motorists. It won't. Road pricing is about tackling congestion." |
| He said local schemes would "teach us more about how road pricing would work and inform decisions on a national scheme", adding that "funds raised from these local schemes will be used to improve transport in those areas". | He said local schemes would "teach us more about how road pricing would work and inform decisions on a national scheme", adding that "funds raised from these local schemes will be used to improve transport in those areas". |
| On Tuesday, Mr Blair's spokesman said the government would press ahead with 10 road-pricing pilot schemes in 10 locations around the country. | On Tuesday, Mr Blair's spokesman said the government would press ahead with 10 road-pricing pilot schemes in 10 locations around the country. |
| Plans to introduce a nationwide "pay-as-you-drive" system were unveiled by former Transport Secretary Alistair Darling in 2005. | Plans to introduce a nationwide "pay-as-you-drive" system were unveiled by former Transport Secretary Alistair Darling in 2005. |
| His successor, Douglas Alexander, has since suggested that road pricing could be brought in within a decade. | His successor, Douglas Alexander, has since suggested that road pricing could be brought in within a decade. |
| The e-mail comes after 74% of the 1,006 people questioned for a BBC-commissioned survey said they were opposed to charging motorists by the mile. | The e-mail comes after 74% of the 1,006 people questioned for a BBC-commissioned survey said they were opposed to charging motorists by the mile. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY We should beat congestion by making it viable for more staff to work from home Peter, Croydon Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY We should beat congestion by making it viable for more staff to work from home Peter, Croydon Send us your comments |
| But 55% of those spoken to said they would change their minds and support such a scheme if the money raised was used to improve public transport. | But 55% of those spoken to said they would change their minds and support such a scheme if the money raised was used to improve public transport. |
| More than 25% said nothing would make the policy acceptable to them. | More than 25% said nothing would make the policy acceptable to them. |
| Those most in favour of a charging system were 18 to 24-year-olds with 28% of those asked saying the government should introduce one. | Those most in favour of a charging system were 18 to 24-year-olds with 28% of those asked saying the government should introduce one. |
| Mr Roberts said the poll was more evidence that people were wary of road charges. | Mr Roberts said the poll was more evidence that people were wary of road charges. |
| He also said investment should be made in the transport network without a road-charging scheme. | He also said investment should be made in the transport network without a road-charging scheme. |
| "Road pricing as an idea has got some merit," he said. | "Road pricing as an idea has got some merit," he said. |
| "But the cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system". | "But the cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system". |
| ROAD PRICING VIEWS Which if any, of the following, would make the policy acceptable to you? Total % If money raised was used to improve public transport... 424 55 If money raised was used to cut other road taxes... 407 53 If the money went to the treasury... 56 7 Nothing would make that policy acceptable to me... 202 26 Based on responses of 768 people Source: ICM survey commissioned by the BBC | ROAD PRICING VIEWS Which if any, of the following, would make the policy acceptable to you? Total % If money raised was used to improve public transport... 424 55 If money raised was used to cut other road taxes... 407 53 If the money went to the treasury... 56 7 Nothing would make that policy acceptable to me... 202 26 Based on responses of 768 people Source: ICM survey commissioned by the BBC |
| Full research findings [86k] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | Full research findings [86k] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |