Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in London on (a) freight and logistics businesses based outside of London, (b) businesses based outside of London and (c) commuters based outside of London who drive into London.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and this includes decisions on road schemes which charge users including the Ultra-Low EmissionZone(ULEZ).

It is for the Mayor to determine the impact on all people and firms that do business in the capital, wherever they are based. This includes the impact on freight and logistics businesses, other businesses, and commuters who need to drive into Greater London as part of his impact assessment on the expansion

ULEZ expansion was not the Government’s decision and the Mayor had no legal obligation to consult local or central Government.

As a scheme that applies in London, this is the Mayor’s decision, and he is accountable for the impact of it.

The Government have been clear that grant funding, via the longer-term funding settlement, cannot be used to cover the estimated £250 million cost of implementation.

The Mayor and TfL must cover the cost of his scheme through alternative sources available to them if they wish to proceed with imposing the ULEZ charge.