"John and Ann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>Fortunately, though, there are other feasible ways to implement >>congestion road-pricing, that do not have this fatal drawback. > >Adrian, this proposal has many attractions. > >>It does however beg the question. Is the Governments real intention >>a) to reduce congestion >>b) to reduce emissions >>c) both the above >>d) neither of the above > >or for d) read e) to increase revenue > >John
Ostensibly mostly (a) with some (b). However AIUI the current proposals are somewhat light on mentions of countervailing reductions in fuel duty. However, more important for boating, because of the new EU fuel duty rules, it is looking as if the only way we can get a low rate of duty on biodiesel for boats is if there is a low rate of biodiesel for everything. Since the government is currently using duty on road fuel as a major source of revenue, it isn't about to reduce the rate on biodiesel for everything because that would allow it to be used on the roads at that low rate. So the trick will be to get the road revenue primarily raised by road pricing, and the duty on road fuel reduced accordingly. Then cars would still pay the same, but boats would get back a low rate on their fuel. So I reckon all boaters should support road pricing. Adrian Adrian Stott 07956-299966
