Heavy Goods Vehicles

HC Deb 28 January 1980 vol 977 cc530-1W

Mr. Alton

asked the Minister of Transport when he will seek to impose fair track costs on heavy goods vehicles.

Mr. Fowler

These costs are allocated on as fair a basis as possible to the different classes of vehicle. I have, however, announced my intention of introducing legislation to change the basis on which vehicle excise duty is charged on heavy lorries from unladen weight, as at present, to gross weight in order that taxation can be more closely related to the road costs which different classes of goods vehicles impose.