News in focus: road charging - Committee learns from Dutch scheme

MPs are due to hear from officials working on Holland's forthcoming pay-as-you-go road-pricing scheme.

The Dutch are about to launch a nation-wide pay-per-kilometre system that takes into account the type of car being driven, the time of day and the road being used.

In return, all standing charges – such as fuel duty and road tax – will be abolished.

The scheme has the support of the ANWB, the Dutch equivalent of the AA, which believes it is fair as people pay only when they are driving.