The news for motorists

He has accused Labour of targeting motorists via an unreasonable series of fuel duty increases, while at the same time driving up the price of cars by tying the cost of the tax disc to a vehicle's CO2 emissions.

FUEL PRICE STABILISER

And having talked of a return to the fuel duty escalator in the run up to the election, talk from the Tory minister is now of a 'fuel price stabiliser'.

This measure will look to regulate the price of fuel in the UK, by lowering taxes if the price of crude rises sharply. The bad news for motorists is that if the cost of crude falls, taxes will increase to compensate for any previous government concessions.

PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE

Despite their green makeover, the Tory-Liberal ministers seem keen to exercise their parliamentary privilege. With talk this week of the huge official residences Cabinet ministers still take on, it may come as no surprise to find ministers also driving huge official cars.

Following fast in the wake of John 'two Jags' Prescott, Home Secretary Theresa May this week showed off her new £91,000 Jaguar XJ.

Meanwhile Philip Hammond, who also drives a Jaguar, remains committed to a manifesto pledge which puts aside no more cash for speed cameras. Further populist measures include a guaranteed crack down on private clamping firms, those modern day highwaymen.

AROUND THE LOG JAM

With Britain's roads all too often log-jammed and the much lauded high speed rail network still in the sidings, the new government has some tricky questions to answer on transport matters.

The coalition plans to ask private companies to build any new roads, with tolls here a real possibility. Lib Dem manifesto commitments to road pricing however would be shelved.

With the nation's roads still in a parlous state following the harshest winter in years, Mr Hammond has a lot on his agenda.

'We are going to have to look at new and innovative ways of funding capital expenditure', he said.