Aim to reduce pollution

Former Transport Minister Stephen Norris says car bans not a simple answer

The BBC's Guto Harri battles his way to Harlow on public transport Dur: 2'58"

Green Warning to Industry

"Tax is not a popular word. But environmental taxes can encourage industry to find cost-effective, innovative ways of reducing pollution," Mr Prescott told a conference at the Royal Geographical Society in London.

"They can be particularly attractive if they provide revenue which may be used to reduce other taxes, or recycled in other ways," he insisted in his first keynote speech on the Government's plans to fight pollution.

He said that whatever the environmental concern, the Government had to find the best way of dealing with it and that ensured "that the polluter bears the cost of measures required".

Mr Prescott said regulation was often the right move to ensure consistent standards but voluntary agreement could work well in the right circumstances.

The Deputy Prime Minister demonstrated his commitment to using public transport by arriving at the central London gathering by Tube.

Prescott: New approach to transport

"Fewer cars, more buses"

Earlier Mr Prescott said the Government wanted to "green" Whitehall and persuade people to use buses and trains. Although he did not announce details of the Government's integrated transport policy in his speech, Mr Prescott did say a White Paper was in hand and due for publication next spring.

"We should have the highest aims for our transport system," he said. "It should be effective, efficient, clean and safe. It should provide genuine choice to meet the transport needs of all sectors of society."

"It should enhance local, regional and national competitiveness and development, and it should do so while respecting the environment and taking into account the costs transport itself imposes," he said.

Mr Prescott promised a rolling programme of action to make his policy a reality involving central and local government, transport operators and others across all regions.

Earlier, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the Deputy Prime Minister warned he would not shirk from unpopular decisions in order to cut private car usage.

"There are unpopular decisions but we have to change direction," he said. "It is not only about providing good transport for people, integrating and getting them to use their cars less, but it is absolutely crucial for us to meet our targets in the environmental area."

The former Conservative environment secretary John Gummer said the Opposition would back the Government in its fight against pollution. But he said his misgivings over lack of details about Mr Prescott's plans for an integrated transport policy and other proposals for cleaning up the environment.

In an interview with the BBC Mr Gummer said Labour had set some very tough targets. "I want to know the way this is going to be done," he said.

"I want the best environmental policies we can have. The Conservative Opposition will do what Labour never did, we'll support the Government if it's doing the right things. But we must know how it's going to be done because nobody will believe it otherwise," stressed Mr Gummer.

Taylor queries the rhetoric

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Matthew Taylor said his party welcomed John Prescott's "apparent conversion to supporting the green agenda". However, Mr Taylor described Mr Prescott's rhetoric as "so much cloud-cuckoo-land without real policies for real action".

Mr Taylor called for national targets to reduce traffic, and for green tax reforms in the Budget. "This should start with company car taxation, which at the moment encourages the excessive use of private cars. It could also immediately reduce VAT on energy-saving materials to the same level as fuel. These measures could be announced before the summer and would send a clear message that the government is serious about the environment," he said.