CONCLUSIVE information on the economic and environmental impact of the company car is needed before the Government changes the way it is taxed according to the Confederation of British Industry. But the CBI is calling on New Labour to face up to some tough choices and seize a golden opportunity to construct a long-term integrated transport policy.

Britain's business leaders want the Government to consider radical policies such as road-pricing, fiscal incentives for low emissions vehicles and ring-fencing roads revenue to plough it back into the transport infrastructure.

In 'Roads to the Market' - its latest report on the challenges facing the architects of an integrated transport policy - the CBI says there is simply not enough hard evidence upon which to base changes to the current benefit-in-kind regime. The influential employers' organisation stresses the role of the company car as a business tool but says more research is needed into the company car market to enable a future Government to act on better information if appropriate.