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Transport
The Government is committed to developing a modern, efficient and sustainable transport system. The transport networks have suffered from decades of under-investment.
With a growing population, which is travelling more often and further, demand for travel is set to increase. The challenge is to enable people and goods to move around in ways that are consistent with important environmental objectives.
I would like to see a reverse in the growth of road traffic, and improved access to local services and facilities so that there is less necessity to drive, with people encouraged to replace car trips with walking, cycling and public transport.
There has already been significant progress since 1997:
There are now 1300 extra weekday scheduled train services; over 2,000 stations have been improved and 17 new stations built; and rail freight has risen by 30%. Passenger use has increased by 20% since 1997 and the railways are carrying more people than at any time since 1947.
New car fuel efficiency in the UK has improved, and sales of fuel efficient vehicles has increased.
Labour's vehicle taxation policies are CO2 based - the more your car pollutes, the more you pay. Motorists can save in VED each year by choosing the cleanest, most fuel efficient vehicles.
Labour has used fuel duty incentives to support the introduction of clean, low carbon fuels. Ultra low sulphur forms of petrol and diesel are taxed at 3p and 6p per litre less than higher sulphur forms.
The Future
The Government's approach to transport planning is aimed at promoting easier access to jobs, schools and services, which should, in due course, help to tackle dependence on the car.
In 2005/06 there will be further progress. Over 3000 miles of bus route improvements, over 6000 miles of new cycle lanes and tracks, over 150 new park and ride schemes, over 1800 improvements to transport interchanges, over 15,000 improvements to assist traffic management and tens of thousands of smaller improvements to improve the safety and quality of local transport infrastructure are expected.