§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made towards reaching agreement on a common European Union set of road user charges for hauliers; and if he will make a statement. [48077]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonEuropean legislation is already in place which allows Member States to impose user charges on heavy goods vehicles over 12 tonnes, if they wish to do so. However the Directive in question, Council Directive 93/89 EEC, was annulled by the European Court of Justice in 1995, although its provisions remain in force. Agreement has yet to be reached on a replacement, despite considerable effort during the UK's Presidency of the EU and previous Presidencies.