THE Government must support the motor industry and not kill it, PHH Vehicle Management Services managing director David Knight told Roads Minister Baroness Hayman and 200 fleet industry guests at the company's annual Motor Manufacturers Awards. In his keynote speech Knight called for a higher political priority for transport and the environment with a level of financial investment to match.

He added: 'Our challenge is to work with the Government to reduce congestion and pollution for the benefit of everyone. The Government's challenge is to lead, and the best way to do this is to reinvest a greater proportion of the money taken from the motorist into creating a transport infrastructure which allows people a viable alternative while also financially supporting the motor industry in its initiatives to find solutions.'

Figures show that the Government reaps about £28 billion in taxes from motorists and invests around £7 billion in the UK road network. As the Government looks to revamp the existing company car tax system Knight warned Hayman and her Government colleagues: 'Punitively taxing company cars will force individuals to buy their own for work and pleasure. 'The result will be virtually the same number of cars but older and less efficiently maintained and the environment will degenerate, not improve. The cause would be better served by providing cash incentives to clear the roads of older vehicles, maybe 10 years plus as a start.'