Drivers 'won't be forced to ditch cars'

Addressing a conference in London yesterday, Mr Hammond said the Government was keen to make the train the transport mode of choice for long-distance, inter-urban journeys.

And for short-distance, urban travel, the challenge was "to make public transport or low-impact modes such as walking and cycling the most attractive options" He went on: "But for intermediate journeys involving complex routing across rural and suburban areas, there is no realistic prospect of displacing the private car through persuasion rather than coercion. And I do not favour coercion as a solution.

"Whether we like it or not, the ability to travel point-to-point on an individually-tailored timetable is one of the great quality-of-life gains of the second half of the 20th century - and not one that people will give up without a fight."

Mr Hammond added that thanks to the low-emission vehicles being introduced, such as the electric Nissan Leaf, motorists would not have to give up cars.

He said the Government wanted local transport schemes planned locally, not in Whitehall, and he said Ministers were looking to reduce the demand for travel for businesses.

Mr Hammond said the Government was encouraging home working and encouraging use video conferencing as an alternative to long-distance travel.