§ Mr. Marplesasked the Minister of Transport what progress the Road Research Laboratory has made in its work on apparatus for operating a system of user road pricing; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MulleyThe laboratory is developing two types of apparatus. Both operate on the principle of charging a fixed amount when a vehicle crosses specific points within the pricing area.
The first (on-vehicle) method requires vehicles to be fitted with a meter which records, cumulatively, at each pricing point. The alternative (off-vehicle) method requires vehicles to be fitted with an identification unit which, on passing a point, communicates the vehicle's identity to recording apparatus at the roadside or elsewhere, thus enabling a record to be compiled for each vehicle.
Clockwork and battery powered on-vehicle meters are being developed to the production prototype stage; completion of the battery version is expected within the next few months. Prototype equipment for an off-vehicle system is also expected to be available for detailed research shortly.
The intention is to subject samples of these prototype units to environmental testing and to carry out operational tests on a small scale on laboratory premises.