§ Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what data he has evaluated indicating that increasing the duty on fuel results in lower car use; and if he will make the studies available in the Library. [39780]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 27 April 1998]The Government have evaluated many studies based on evidence from both trends over time and from different countries, which demonstrate that higher fuel costs dissuade motorists from using their vehicles. The majority of these studies are available publicly, and are too numerous to be placed in the Library. A review of these studies was compiled by Professor P. Goodwin and was published in the Journal of Transport and Economics and Policy (May 1992).
In addition, the DETR published the National Road Traffic Forecasts Great Britain (1997) last October, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. The 331W forecasting methodology takes account of the effect of motoring costs on vehicle use through a relationship based on data going back to 1950.