Motoring

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate the juncture that we are at in the current cycle in terms of preparations for the Budget. Such matters are kept under review by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Motoring taxes are primarily revenue-raising to serve and support public finances and to fund public services. I note that the hon. Gentleman kept referring to them as stealth taxes. I suspect, frankly, that he does not think that the stealth taxes have provided the £1.34 billion of regional funding allocation for the north-west region, and that that is pie in the sky, and some sort of stealth expenditure. It is not; nor is the 11 per cent. increase in funding for local transport schemes in his region. That is the reality of funding real schemes that are out there and making a difference for all those who travel, let alone funding such as the £2.3 billion for bus services in this country and the record billions of pounds that are being spent on the railways.