John Prescott going Underground

Londoners May Face New Road Tax

The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, will flesh out his proposals to increase charges for parking and driving in the capital when he publishes the draft bill for an elected assembly and mayor for London on Tuesday, July 29.

The money raised from motorists will be made available to the new mayor who is likely to use a large proportion of it to improve the infrastructure of London's Tube network. The new mayor will be unable to increase council tax bills.

If, as expected, the new system comes into effect by the year 2000, Londoners may be charged an extra £100 a year to keep a car on the city's roads, while those commuting in may pay as much as £400 extra a year.

Keep an eye on the meter . . .

As well as transport policy, the new mayor for London will have responsibility for London's police and fire service.

The Government hopes the initiative will discourage car use in the capital, reduce pollution and encourage people to use an improved public transport system.

But the plan has already sparked off an attack from the Opposition.

The former Conservative Transport Minister Stephen Norris told The Times newspaper: "I have no doubt that central Government would love to pass the poisoned chalice of road pricing to whoever was the elected mayor. But whether the mayor or the Greater London assembly would be prepared to take it on is another matter. There are other ways of tackling traffic congestion that do not involve road charging."