A TAX on company-provided car parking spaces would not significantly reduce car usage and 25% of motorists surveyed said they would consider changing their job rather than pay the tax. Amid speculation that a tax on non-residential car parking spaces is a Budget proposal of the Government's, a survey of 100 motorists by Lease Plan, which operates a fleet of more than 65,000 vehicles in the UK, suggests that such a tax would be pointless.

The research found that 72% of motorists would continue to use their car to travel to work even if a tax on parking spaces was introduced in the March 17 Budget. And a further 13% admitted they would continue to drive to work but would park in a place where they did not have to pay.

Meanwhile, 28% said they would be forced to leave their car at home, but only 12% would opt for public transport as an alternative and 13% said they would either walk or cycle. A further 6% said they would move house to be nearer to work.