THE Confederation of British Industry has challenged the Government to use its own fleet 'to set an example in cost-effective environmental best practice'. The call to green the Government's fleet features in the CBI's 'Transport Agenda 1998/99', and follows revelations that 14 central Government departments operating more than 14,000 vehicles, ran just eight gas or electric-powered vehicles.

The CBI canvassed hundreds of companies across the UK and found general support for the Government's integrated transport white paper strategy. But the business organisation also expressed concern that the UK economy was suffering because too little was being done in the short term to improve the transport infrastructure and that progress could be undermined by lack of investment.

John Allan, chairman of the CBI's transport policy committee, said: 'Congestion costs business billions of pounds every year and is getting worse, and increased fuel duty will add billions more in the next few years. Taken together these costs will put a huge burden on business and could seriously damage UK competitiveness.'