""But Don, Banjoman, would you agree then that the labour idea for road pricing is an answer of sorts? It treats individuals on their individual circumstances, on where they happen to live and on where / when they drive. Take the tax off fuel and put it on those individual factors.""

You must have missed, or misunderstood, what I said in my post.

I am in favour of road pricing in the circumstances which I outlined.

1. Road pricing would have to replace all fuel tax, Road Fund Licence fees, and the extra purchase tax which is levied on new cars over and above VAT.

2. The revenue raised should be used in its entirety for the proper maintenance and upkeep of the road system, with the surplus going one hundred percent to providing proper public transport in Rural and suburban areas, with special attention to cross routes.

I know commuters will never be satisfied with the service they get, but I want to see money spent on those who get no service at all.

3. The difference between the cost of City, Town, Motorway, and Rural Pricing has to be realistic. Government has a long established habit of levying much more than is required for their purpose, and the surplus always disappears without trace.

4. Some account should be taken of the position with regard to pensioners. Disabled people get a mobility allowance in order that they might get out of the house, and have a reasonable quality of life.

Pensioners too, particularly those on a very low income, can all too easily become isolated, and virtually imprisoned in their homes. This needs to be recognised, and some small adjustment made to pricing, at least in rural areas.

If road pricing follows those four principles, then I'm all for it.

Don T.