Amess presses for green transport solutions

Yesterday in Parliament David Amess MP asked a oral Parliamentary Question to the Transport Minister, Dr Stephen Ladyman, on how carbon emissions from road transport can be produced.

Mr. David Amess (Southend, West) (Con): What plans he has to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from road transport; and if he will make a statement. [100554]
To which the Minister replied:
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Dr. Stephen Ladyman): The Government have a range of policies across four areas to tackle carbon dioxide emissions from road transport. These policies aim to reduce the carbon content of fuel, to improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles, to encourage more sustainable travel choices, and to work with the EU to consider seriously the inclusion of transport in emissions trading.
However the main issue here is whether the Government’s policy of taxing car users off the road actually reduces car journeys, as Mr Amess added,
Mr. Amess: The Minister knows that carbon emissions from transport have increased from 27 per cent. to 33 per cent. He also knows that the Mayor of London is going to tax 4x4s by increasing the congestion charge for such vehicles to £25. In the Queen’s Speech last week, we also heard about road pricing. Will the Minister now reassure the House that any increase in the taxation on motors will not just be used as a money-making exercise, and that it will go towards research and development to find alternative sources of fuel?
However, the Minister’s response did not address the key point of how the tax revenue collected would be spent on developing greener transport solutions, saying,
Dr. Ladyman: We already invest substantially in research projects to look for alternative sources of fuel. We are also working hard on the renewable transport fuel obligation, which will ensure that 5 per cent. of road fuel is obtained from renewable sources by 2010. That will present a great opportunity to reduce carbon emissions from land transport by 1 million tonnes a year; it will also be a great opportunity for the agriculture sector to provide the biomass to create that fuel. I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman that we need to work hard on these issues, but the Government are committed to doing so and are already doing so.