It's clear to me that the real reason for introducing a mileage tax, as opposed to a simple increase in fuel tax, has nothing to do with helping the environment, and has everything to do with government intrusion into people's personal lives - something this government seems obsessed with.

If the aim is to encourage people to make fewer journeys, a straightforward increase in fuel taxes would have that effect, and would cost absolutely nothing to implement - unlike the costly process of installing computers in every single vehicle, with satellites and systems to monitor every individual's vehicle useage.

Once this system, is in place, the government will not only be able to charge you by the mile, but they will know exactly where you are whenever you go out in your car. They will be able to detect if you are speeding, by measuring the time taken to complete any stage of a journey (between any two points) and calculating the average speed, even taking account of stops at motorway service stations and the like.

George Orwell didn't know the half of it!