LABOUR MP Tom Levitt has called for tax relief on the use of company minibuses which are used to reduce employees' reliance on private cars. Levitt raised the point in the House of Commons after it was highlighted by an engineering company, Brake Linings, in his Derbyshire constituency.

So far the only answer he has been given is that treasury minister Dawn Primarolo has noted his suggestion, but Levitt says that means the issue will be examined. He said: 'Brake Linings operates on two sites and uses minibuses to transfer employees from one site to another, but found it was barely worth their while from a tax relief point of view.

'The company has just won an award for its environmentally-sound work and felt that the taxation system could be more helpful.' Levitt, a former environmental studies teacher, said he was confident that the matter would be looked at and that the Chancellor would be looking at encouraging environmentally-friendly transport options.