THE new government must stimulate debate on environmental issues and the company car to encourage imaginative solutions to Britain's transport problems. This is the call from Dial Contracts' executive director Ian Goswell who warned against the new government viewing company car drivers as a soft target.

He said: 'Rigorous efforts should be made to deal with traffic congestion, vehicle-generated pollution and to improve Britain's transport infrastructure, but we are worried that policymakers might opt for a simplistic solution which will penalise company car users.'

Goswell has called for company car tax to be based on private and not business mileage, a company car tax system which discourages unnecessary use, and road tolling - provided it offered company drivers and employers benefits in the form of faster journey times and increased productivity.