GOVERNMENT proposals to increase the charges to mobile telephone companies will have no effect on the millions of company car drivers who rely on them.

Contrary to national newspaper speculation prior to last week's Queen's Speech, the extra costs imposed by new proposals will not be passed on to end-users in the form of around a 10p a week price rise. The changes announced by the Queen provide for a five-fold increase in the charges service providers pay to use the radio frequencies and an open auction of any new frequencies made available in the future.

The increased charges - expected to raise £1 billion - were initially proposed by the previous Government and the industry has already budgeted for them meaning mobile phone users will not face higher charges.