HL Deb 12 December 2001 vol 629 c208WA
Lord Bradshaw

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What evidence they have that heavy goods vehicle operators pay the whole of the direct and indirect costs for the use of the road system through taxes and duties. [HL1763]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The Government take account of relevant economic, environmental and social factors when forming taxation policy. The Government's Statement of Intent on environmental taxes, which was published alongside Budget 1997, stated that taxes are set to take into account the principle that the polluter pays, but it also recognised market circumstances, such as the effects on competition, and social considerations.

Foreign lorries do not currently have to pay any taxes to operate in the UK. To address this, the Government launched a consultation document with the Pre-Budget Report on the options for the possible introduction of a lorry road-user charge.