THE long-awaited Government white paper on an integrated transport policy has been delayed once again, it was revealed this week. It had been expected that the white paper, first due in March, would be published on June 23.

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions has now announced the paper will not be published until after the Treasury publishes its comprehensive departmental spending review - due in mid-July. A DETR spokesman would only confirm that the paper would not be published until after the review, but with Parliament due to go into recess soon afterwards for the summer, debate in the corridors of power is likely to be limited.

The content of the paper will be one of the key discussion items for the newly-formed Parliamentary All-Party Motor Industry group - an all-party group of MPs and peers launched to campaign on behalf of the motor industry and motorists. While the contents of the paper are being kept a closely guarded secret Parliamentary sources indicate it is expected to be significantly watered down from the gung-ho anti-car, and particularly anti-company car, paper many people in the fleet industry were expecting.