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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 In June 1997, the UK Government announced its intention to publish a White Paper setting out proposals for an integrated transport strategy in the United Kingdom and a companion Scottish White Paper which would reflect more directly the issues of importance in Scotland. Travel Choices for Scotland - The Scottish Integrated Transport White Paper (Cm 4010) was published in July 1998.
1.2 The Scottish White Paper stated:-
"Demand for road space exceeds supply at certain times and in certain places in Scotland, as elsewhere. The result is traffic congestion, noise and increased air pollution." (paragraph 4.3.1)
"We believe that, in certain circumstances, an effective solution is to charge road users for driving through congested space. Such charges will confront road users with the wider costs of their actions and will encourage them to seek out alternatives." (paragraph 4.3.3)
"The demand for road use depends not only upon the availability and cost of road access, but also on the availability and cost of car parking at the intended end point of the journey. This applies particularly to employees who drive to work and enjoy free parking at their workplaces. ….. One means of influencing traffic levels would be to introduce a levy on such parking spaces." (4.3.15)
"Following consultation, we shall introduce enabling legislation to permit Scottish local authorities to operate urban road charging schemes, subject to the approval (in each case) of the Scottish Executive." (paragraph 4.3.9) "We shall ensure that our proposed legislation is sufficiently broad to allow … charging for trunk road use." (paragraph 4.3.13)
"We shall introduce legislation under which local authorities will be able to adopt a scheme to levy a parking charge on workplace parking, subject to the approval by the Scottish Executive of any scheme brought forward. … We shall consult … before introducing legislation." (paragraph 4.3.16)
1.3 Partnership for Scotland, the agreement between the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats on a programme for the Scottish Parliament, confirmed this legislative commitment by saying:
"We will legislate to allow road user charging where it is sensible to do so. We will enable local authorities to levy charges on parking at the workplace. The proceeds will be used to invest in transport."
The Scottish Executive’s legislative programme, announced on 16 June 1999, includes a Transport Bill. The Scottish Executive intends to consult widely on the details of implementing road user charging and workplace parking levy schemes before the necessary primary legislation is introduced into Parliament. This is expected to be around the end of this year. This consultation paper will play an important part in the consultation process.
Structure of this paper
1.4 Chapter 2 of this paper describes the background to the Scottish Executive’s decision to propose legislation which will allow local authorities to introduce local road user charging or workplace parking levy schemes and which will also allow road user charging on the trunk road network. Chapter 3 describes the Scottish Executive’s views on the content of the proposed legislation relating to local authority schemes. Chapter 4 sets out the consultation issues which flow from these proposals. Chapter 5 describes the proposals for the legislation relating to trunk road user charging (to the extent that they differ from the local proposals) and sets out some issues for consultation. Chapter 6 summarises the consultative issues on which views are sought. The annex to the paper contains a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment. This type of assessment is required for all legislative and regulatory proposals which have a potential cost impact on businesses, charities or voluntary groups and consultees are specifically invited to comment on the costs which these proposals may involve for these sectors.
The consultation process
1.5 The Scottish Executive invites comments on the issues raised within this consultation document on the basis of the questions set out in Chapter 6. Respondents are asked, where possible, to relate their comments to specific consultation questions. It will be assumed that, unless those responding indicate otherwise, the Scottish Executive will be free to publish the responses. Responses should be sent to:
Stuart Johnston
The Scottish Executive Development Department
Transport Division 1
Area 2-D
Victoria Quay
EDINBURGH
EH6 6QQ.
(e-mail:
TransDiv1@scotland.gov.uk)
and should arrive on or before 30 September 1999.
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