MINISTERS are considering the technical feasibility of motorway tolling with a view to making such measures part of the transport white paper due to be published in the spring. Technological trials have been carried out on a test track at the Transport Research Laboratory and the results have now been passed on to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Ministers are now deciding whether road-pricing would form a viable part of the Government's much-heralded integrated transport policy. A spokeswoman for the DETR said: 'The trials at TRL finished in mid-June 1997 and the consultants' results have now gone to ministers and are being considered in the context of the transport white paper.'

She said plans for a trial of tolling on the M3 near Basingstoke had been discussed in the past, but had been shelved in favour of trials on the test track at TRL. No new decisions were now likely before the publication of the transport white paper. Road tolling is, however, playing an increasing role in off-motorway traffic reduction - both in urban areas and for the conservation of heritage areas.