Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Smart Road Pricing

09 March 2022 · 6 other contributors · 8,200 words

Opened by Elliot Colburn Con Carshalton and Wallington

Responding minister: Trudy Harrison

TransportClimateEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Elliot Colburn raised concerns about smart road pricing in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Sutton is ranked 29th out of 33 London boroughs for transport infrastructure, lacking key rail links.
  • Residents of Sutton have high private car ownership and usage rates, critical for daily activities.
  • The government is urged to consider public transport improvements before introducing smart road pricing.

Key requests to Government

The Government is urged to revisit public transport options before implementing smart road pricing schemes. The Minister is asked how the Government will address the dilemma of funding roads while decarbonising transportation, ensuring it is fair to all road users.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Elliot Colburn Con Carshalton and Wallington

Sutton is ranked 29th out of the 33 London boroughs for transport infrastructure, lacking access to London Underground, Overground stations or Crossrail. The borough has some of the highest private car ownership and usage rates in London. Residents rely heavily on cars for work and personal life, with any policy impacting road transportation significantly affecting constituents. There are concerns about striking a balance between achieving net zero ambitions and providing sustainable alternatives to high-emission modes of transport.

Other contributors (6)
  • Daniel Poulter Con Central Suffolk and North Ipswich

    Urges the hon. Member to consider the Transport Committee's recommendation that road pricing should be at a national level, highlighting potential adverse effects on rural communities.

  • Gareth Bacon Con Orpington

    Mr. Bacon criticised the Mayor of London's proposal to expand the ultra low emission zone, arguing it was a revenue-raising measure rather than an air quality initiative. He highlighted that the expansion would disproportionately affect outer London residents and cost vehicle owners up to £4,500 annually. Mr. Bacon also warned about the potential for road pricing and the civil liberties concerns associated with mandatory GPS tracking in vehicles. Expressed challenges faced by people who cannot afford to upgrade their cars but rely on them for work or travel needs, particularly in rural areas.

  • Gavin Newlands SNP Paisley and Renfrewshire North

    Mr. Newlands highlighted the need for a wholesale review of the current taxation system, emphasizing that road pricing needs to be part of this overhaul. He cited Scotland's ambitious target to reduce overall car kilometres by 20% by 2030 and argued that devolving motoring taxation powers to the Scottish Parliament is crucial for achieving net zero targets. Mr. Newlands also mentioned the decrease in revenues from fuel duties due to the shift towards electric vehicles, urging a national debate on vehicle taxation. Acknowledged the work done by the Transport Committee and expressed views on road pricing schemes in local areas.

  • Gurmel Dhesi Lab Slough

    Discussed electric vehicle charging infrastructure, welcoming the government's decision to phase out petrol and diesel car sales by 2030.

  • Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park

    Supports the debate and agrees with many points raised about the lack of public transport in Sutton. Highlights concerns about the ULEZ cutting off access to essential services, while acknowledging the need for action on car usage due to congestion and air quality issues.

  • Tan Dhesi Lab Slough

    He highlighted concerns about the impact of electric vehicles on tax revenue and the need for grants and support schemes. He also raised issues with insufficient charging points, particularly outside London, noting that only 1,000 out of 5,700 public charging points are located there. Dhesi asked how the Government would address privacy concerns related to smart road pricing and stressed the importance of ensuring any proposals do not exacerbate the cost of living crisis.

Government Response

Trudy Harrison

Responded to various concerns raised during the debate, providing details on initiatives such as Project Rapid's plans for rapid chargers at motorway service areas. Clarified that phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2030 does not imply a ban but rather a phase-out of new sales. Highlighted the need for road pricing schemes to be fair and non-discriminatory, especially considering rural needs. Noted London's existing congestion charges and Mayor Sadiq Khan's plans for an expanded ultra-low emission zone by 2030, along with potential per-mile charging based on pollution levels and congestion.

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