Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the plans of European Union Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc for a European Union-wide road toll scheme; and whether any decision on such plans would be decided by unanimity or qualified majority.

The Government has seen no plans for a European Union-wide road toll scheme from European Union Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc and is very clear that we will not introduce any road charging scheme.

The Government’s view is that any future choices on charging systems would be quasi-fiscal in nature and so should be considered under the tax base of the Treaty, rather than the transport base. This would mean unanimity would be required.