§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the consultation on the proposed road user charge for lorries will(a) start and (b) finish. [52366]
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the further details of the lorry road user charges referred to on page 135 of Budget 2002 will be published; from where these details will be available; and what further process of consultation he intends to undertake; [52387]
(2) if he will list the reasons why the lorry road user charge referred to on page 135 of Budget 2002 is aimed to he introduced in 2005 or 2006; and if he will make a statement. [52379]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Government are today publishing a document on their proposals for the lorry road user charge, 'Modernising the taxation of the haulage industry—progress report one'. Copies of this document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses today.
336WThe document outlines why the Government have chosen to introduce a distance based rather than time based lorry road user charge, some preliminary thoughts about the nature of the charge and the key next steps. It follows a period of consultation, involving the haulage industry, other business groups and environmental organisations, based on the Government's consultation document, 'Modernising the taxation of the haulage industry—a consultation document', published in November 2001. The Government will continue to ensure that stakeholders are involved in the development of the lorry road user charge.