Darling backs national road tolls plan

Controversial proposals for congestion charges on national highways - and key roads into London - have received a major boost from the Government. Transport Secretary Alistair Darling says he wants to cooperate with the Mayor's experts who are developing advanced road-toll systems. He said he had received a "formal" approach from Transport for London this week.

TfL is offering to work with the Government on its "tag and beacon" system which it is testing in south London. Cars carrying credit card-sized tags are debited when they enter the zone by passing under a roadside beacon.

Transport commissioner Bob Kiley says the system could lead to charges on major roads in London within four years and a national toll system in four to seven years.

Mr Darling told the Commons Transport Committee a " comprehensive" national scheme could not be done "within 10-15 years". But he added: "We could do something with more local schemes in five to six years."

He later told the Standard: "I am interested in the technology." The M4 into London was a good example of where road user pricing could cut congestion, he said.