??Petrol price increase

[peterco]

As per article.......
Petrol prices should go up to keep carbon emissions down, according to the Government's transport advisers.
The Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) called for a "steady increase in fuel price to help control CO2 emissions".
"Our aim is to ensure that cost-effectiveness remains a touchstone for policy makers facing the difficult yet necessary choices about how best to reduce the impact of transport on climate change" - Michael Roberts
The price of fuel can be a "significant and visible element of overall costs of road transport", added CfIT in its report to the Government on transport and climate change.
The commission said a proposed climate change committee should advise the Government on where and by how much fuel duty may need to increase.
CfIT also urged greater adherence to the 70mph speed limit on the roads, with effective enforcement of the limit possibly saving around one million tonnes of carbon a year.
And it said principles of "eco-driving" - such as accelerating smoothly, not braking sharply and not over-using air conditioning - might be incorporated into the driving test.
CfIT's climate change working group chairman Michael Roberts, who is also director of business environment at the Confederation of British Industry, said: "This report stands out from others by focusing very much on the cost-effectiveness of measures to cut transport carbon emissions.
"Our knowledge in this area needs to improve as it is vital to identifying the best economy-wide approach to meeting the UK's reduction targets.
"It has long been recognised that we need to promote technological and behavioural change to secure reductions in transport emissions.
"This report emphasises the importance of bringing together measures aimed at achieving both.
"The Government's current approach already reflects this but could in our view be developed further to good effect.
"Our aim is to ensure that cost-effectiveness remains a touchstone for policy makers facing the difficult yet necessary choices about how best to reduce the impact of transport on climate change."

[Biker Biggles]

Ah that old chestnut.Back to the 90s fuel tax that resulted in the fuel protests?
Having said that------
If they put more tax on fuel,but reduced or abolished road tax to make it fiscally neutral I would have no problem with it.Not in their nature to be fiscally neutral though.

How about they spend it on the roads...

[timwilky]

Once we have a national integrated public transport system that works I would see little argument as to why additional tax could not be applied to fuel. After all it would be a luxury item and only used for vehicles being used for playing.

However, I doubt we will see this mythical beast within the next millennium. A good example. My step mum gets an OAP bus pass. However to catch a bus she needs to walk 3 miles. So guess what. She owns two cars.

My wife works at a local hospital, she would need to catch 2 buses. Her shifts start at 7.00 am. On a sunday the first bus only leaves for the hospital at 10am. So She needs to drive.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Ah that old chestnut.Back to the 90s fuel tax that resulted in the fuel protests?
Having said that------
If they put more tax on fuel,but reduced or abolished road tax to make it fiscally neutral I would have no problem with it.Not in their nature to be fiscally neutral though.

road tax is already directly linked to fuel usage from £35 to £220 depending on CO2(fuel usage), so no need to abolish.

[Biker Biggles]

Road tax is an annual charge not related to mileage or amount of conjestion caused.Fuel tax is directly related to fuel usage and nothing else.

[tigersaw]

Just read on the news petrol will be soaring in a few weeks anyway, since the price of crude has risen to an all time high.

Yet another way of forcing the poor people to stay in their own little poor, little world and let the rich waft along in their luxury german tanks.

Surely a tax on the fuel and not just an annual levy would be better as then those who choose not to tax their vehicles as they haven't registered them in their own names couldn't avoid it as they would still need fuel.

[Biker Biggles]

Yup.And the foriegners would have to pay,and the big gas guzzlers would just pay more and those who own a car but only use it when they have to would pay less.It would also encourage the production of more frugal vehicles generally and assist our general health by getting us to walk rather than drive those short trips.