Lorry road user charging -HMCE hold open day

摘要

The procurement process has begun. HM Customs and Excise, not an organisation usually associated with the procurement of major ITS systems, is seeking submissions from interested groups or companies through a Pre Qualification Questionnaire. The document was issued on the 13th May following an 'open day' in London hosted by HMCE on 12th May. The HMCE has arrived at this point following a 30 month consultation and assessment period that began in the Autumn of 2001 when the Chancellor announced, in the Pre-Budget Report, his intention of consulting with industry, environmental groups and other interested parties over a scheme to charge lorries to use UK roads. The initiative was prompted by direct action taken during the fuel crisis of 2001when the UK hauliers were angry that foreign based lorries can use UK roads without any charge, especially if they did not need to buy fuel. The Budget speech in the Spring of 2002 committed the government to go ahead with a scheme that would charge lorries by distance travelled on the UK roads (as opposed to say, time spent). It is clear that the charge is to be a tax. It was proposed that the system would be in place by 2006.