PRESS RELEASE

29 JANUARY 2002

Ottaway calls on Government to intervene over Mayor's flawed congestion charging

Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, has secured a debate on Government policy on the impact of congestion charging in London. He will argue that the Government has both the power and grounds to intervene in the Mayor's plans to introduce congestion charging, but lacks the courage to do so.

Richard Ottaway says:-

"The congestion charge will harm London and Londoners alike. The purpose of this debate is to call on the Secretary of State for Transport to intervene in order to prevent the inevitable chaos that will ensue once congestion charging is introduced."

"Firstly, the congestion charge is not a fair tax. To many people the car is a necessity, rather than a luxury, as they have to be flexible in where they find work. That is why low earners are prepared to commit up to 24% of their expenditure to running their car and it is they who can least afford to pay Red Ken's congestion tax."

"Secondly, the congestion charge will not achieve its claimed purpose - which is to improve the quality of the environment. In his desire to make this tax a reality, the Mayor has conveniently ignored the fact that the average car produces a mere 5% of the toxic emissions it was producing 20 years ago. The most polluting vehicles - buses and taxis - will be exempt from the congestion charge. Furthermore, the Mayor may be under the illusion that a charging zone can exist in isolation. However, the reality is likely to be very different with pollution and congestion becoming worse outside the central zone."
"Thirdly, the congestion charge is inefficient. The costs of installing the technology and administering the scheme will be huge, and are rising, whereas the projected revenues have already been revised downwards. Does the Mayor really think that the sums raised, which will barely scratch the surface of the extra funding London Underground needs, are worth the chaos the congestion charge will bring to London? One doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to realise the damaging impact all this will have on London's economy."

"However, all is not lost. The Greater London Authority Act gives the Government power to intervene in the Mayor's transport strategy if it is considered likely to have an adverse effect on London. Therefore, the only question now is whether the Government has the guts to use this power"

ENDS

For further information, please call 020 7219 6392

Note to editors: The debate on the Congestion Charge will take place on Wednesday 30th January at 11am in Westminster Hall