Finance Minister Wouter Bos has fallen out with his Transport colleague Camiel Eurlings over the introduction of road pricing in the Netherlands in 2012. Road pricing, taxing the actual distance driven, is to replace the current system of taxes on fuel.

The ministers disagree about the budgetary consequences of the new scheme. Mr Bos said road pricing as proposed is financially irresponsible, pointing out that the inland revenue's income may suffer if people decide to drive less under the new regime. By way of compensation he wants the traffic minister to cut spending on roads, which Mr Eurlings is unwilling to consider. Minister Eurlings is also ruling out higher road pricing rates, so it remains unclear how much motorists will be paying per kilometre from 2012.

Traffic Minister Camiel Eurlings (ANP Photo)