THE Government stands to fork out £30 million for its parking spaces if workplace parking charges are introduced, according to Conservative MP James Gray.

Gray, MP for North Wiltshire, estimates the Government has 100,000 spaces liable for charges. He said: 'At a charge of £3,000 each the Government stands to pay out £30 million a year, which will come from the taxpayers' pockets. We will press the Government with these figures and fight this appalling tax.'

Under the proposals laid out in the Government's 'Breaking the Logjam' document, local authorities will be able to set parking charges and road-user charges with no upper limit, as long as they can argue the case for imposing them with Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, who is responsible for transport.

Gray is spearheading a campaign to fight the charges, which he claims could cost companies up to £3,000 per space a year based on figures in an independent report on road charging options for London. He says the charges will force companies to cut jobs and have terrible effects on all drivers.

The Institute of Directors has demanded a U-turn on the measures after predicting they could cost some companies £2 billion a year. A spokesman for the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions said: 'It is far too early for anyone to be able to talk about specific figures. Nothing will be in place for another four or five years.'