There is a ‘compelling case’ for commercial vehicles to pay more under a national road pricing regime, according to a report (published 16 May) by the Social Market Foundation.
The report comes as ministers prepare to respond to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, which earlier this year said that the government should start work on a road-pricing system ‘without delay’.
Entitled Miles Ahead, the report calls for government to ‘work at pace’ to develop the infrastructure to support a simple national-level road pricing scheme – with a flat per mile rate and a free mileage allowance – and set out a timetable for implementing it.
It comes as the growth in electric vehicles – which do not incur fuel duty – threatens to eventually leave the Treasury with a £30bn gap in tax revenue.
