§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of increased motoring charges on elderly people and those living in rural areas. [39547]
§ Dr. StrangAs part of the fundamental transport review leading to the forthcoming Transport White Paper, officials in my Department have been examining the impact of a range of transport policies, including motoring taxation, on different groups. This work suggests that the impact of an increase in fuel duty on a particular household will depend on a great many factors, the most important of which are car ownership and income. Recent research by the Institute of Fiscal Studies suggests that location is also important, but less so than income and car ownership.