No congestion charge, no cash, warns PM

Reporter: Our Lobby Correspondent
Date online: 06 November 2008

UNLESS Greater Manchester introduces congestion charging it will not benefit from a £1.5 billion investment in public transport, Gordon Brown has warned.

The Prime Minster told the Commons yesterday that the money given in principle was based on proposals put forward by Greater Manchester authorities.

Speaking in Prime Minister’s Question Time, Manchester Withington MP John Leech asked: “The residents of Greater Manchester will have the opportunity to vote in the referendum on introducing congestion charging in return for £1.5bn Government investment in public transport.

“Many people support road pricing but do not support this scheme. Will the PM ensure that in the event of a no vote the people of Greater Manchester will be able to come back with a new and improved scheme, without the concern that the Government might take the money away?

“There has been angry reaction to the question Manchester residents will be asked because it makes no reference to the congestion charge. In the December ballot, residents will be asked: ‘Do you agree with the Transport Innovation Fund proposals?’.

Mr Brown replied: “I know there is a voting paper for yes or no vote, I am afraid there is not one for a don’t know vote.

“In the event of a no vote it would be up to GM authorities to decide whether they wanted to do further work on the proposal.

“The Government is prepared in principle to contribute up to £1.5bn towards a GM package but this is dependent on the broad scope and nature of the package remaining the same.

“If Greater Manchester were to come back with a revised proposition, we would need to look at it on its merits.”

Under the scheme, peak-time drivers would pay £2 to cross the M60, then a further £1 to enter the inner charging zone. A further two £1 charges would be levied to cross the boundaries heading out of the city.

Delivery drivers face paying a capped daily fee of £10 if they make repeated visits through the congestion zones.

Only weeks ago Mr Brown was forced to defend the way a referendum on whether motorists should be forced to pay to enter Greater Manchester was being carried out amid criticism of the “unfair” scheme. Manchester Blackley MP Graham Stringer urged the Prime Minister to scrap the “divisive” vote on the “unfair” scheme, and instead invest in the trams.