NEWS RELEASE

The Transport White Paper:
John Prescott to put Britain back on the rails?

TRANSform Scotland today looked forward to the publication of the White Paper on Integrated Transport, expected to be unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott later today. Prescott looks set to launch an array of measures designed to wean Britain from its addiction to car use. (1)

Significant measures likely to be introduce in the DETR White Paper include:

• powers for Local Authorities to introduce 'road pricing' and 'private non- residential parking' charges, with funds raised being allowed to be retained for sustainable transport measures ("hypothecation");
• further commitments to constraining car-based developments;
• measures to give priority to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport;
• more coordination for the rail network: a 'Strategic Rail Authority';
• better criteria for evaluating roads projects.

TRANSform Scotland's Campaign Manager Colin Howden said:
"With 40% of Scotland's households having no access to a car, a car-based transport system immediately creates a society of 'haves' and 'have-nots'. (2) By making car users pay for the cost they impose on the environment and on the economy, John Prescott has the opportunity to get Britain back into public transport. (3) Car use is the cheapest it has ever been, while public transport users face rising costs: we need a transport system where people who use public transport aren't financially penalised." (4)

Looking forward to the publication of the Scottish White Paper, Colin Howden continued:
"We hope that the Scottish Office version, due out later this week, doesn't match up unfavourably with the UK paper. We don't want to see a second-class transport system in Scotland while John Prescott sorts out transport in England & Wales."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
(1) A detailed 5-page briefing outlining what TRANSform Scotland would like to see in the DETR White Paper, and in its Scottish Office equivalent, is available upon request.
(2) The 1991 Census shows 42.6% of Scottish households with no car. TRANSform Scotland feels it important that the White Paper stresses 'accessibility' rather than 'mobility'.
(3) Car use is subsidised to the tune of £30 billion each and every year when congestion costs, accident & policing costs, air & noise pollution, climate change costs, etc. are taken into account, according to Professor David Pearce of University College London, one of Britain's most eminent economists.
(4) On 4/3/98, the Herald reported Government figures that "The cost of rail fares [have] increased by 74.8% and bus fares by 57.5% compared with the retail price index while the overall price of motoring has dropped by 6.5% since 1974." Scottish Office figures published earlier this year showed that while fares on local bus services in Scotland rose by 11% between 1986-87 and 1996-97, over the same period, there was a rise of only 4% in motoring costs (SO News Release 16/4/98).
(5) TRANSform Scotland brings together 49 organisations - transport operators, local authorities, national environment campaigns & local transport groups - interested in transport, the environment and a sustainable Scotland. We can be contacted at 72 Newhaven Road, Edinburgh, EH6 5QG. Tel.: 0131-467-7714; Fax: 0131-554-8656.

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