§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of Stale for Transport what communications he has had with either the Commission or the European Community or the Governments of its member states concerning charging vehicles for use of motorways; and if he regards such schemes or proposals as a component of the single internal market in transport.
§ Mr. Key[holding answer 10 December 1993]: My right hon. Friend maintains regular contact with the Commission and his colleagues in other member states on motorway charging.
Council directive 93/89/EEC, adopted on 25 October this year, sets out, among other things, the conditions under which member states may impose tolls or user charges on heavy goods vehicles over 12 tonnes gross on motorways and similar roads. This direcive will help eliminate distortion of competition in road goods transport in the European Community.