§ 34. Mr. ForthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on road traffic levels of increasing fuel duties by 6 per cent. a year in real terms over the next five years. [89509]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe 1997 National Road Traffic Forecasts already take into account our policy of annual 6 per cent. increases in fuel duty until 2002. Continuing the escalator for another two years would reduce the forecast traffic levels for 2011 by broadly 1.6 per cent., assuming there is no significant change in vehicle fuel efficiency.