DRIVERLESS cars will become a "real option" for motorists to buy in the near future as a result of the pledge from the UK Government to make Britain a world leader in their development, Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, has told MPs.
The Queen's Speech set out plans to boost the development and implementation of innovative technologies like autonomous vehicles and space flight.
Mr McLoughlin said the UK Government was aiming to provide the "infrastructure that will prepare Britain for the future" as he said projects that might seem like "science fiction" would bring vast economic benefits.
Insisting the Government's new Modern Transport Bill would "pave the way for the technologies and transport of tomorrow," he said: “We are already developing a charging infrastructure for electric and hybrid vehicles. Now driverless cars and commercial spaceflights may seem like science fiction to some but the economic potential of these new technologies is vast."
The Secretary of State insisted ministers were determined that Britain would benefit by helping to lead their development.
"Driverless cars will come under new legislation so they can be insured under ordinary policies. Those new laws will help autonomous and driverless vehicles and cars become a real option for private buyers and fleets," he explained.
Kicking off the second day of the Queen’s Speech debate, which focused on transport, Mr McLoughlin also outlined the Government's hopes for the development of the UK's first spaceport.
The aim is to have an operational spaceport in place by 2018. There are six sites currently in the running: Campbeltown Airport; Glasgow Prestwick Airport; Llanbedr Airfield; Newquay Cornwall Airport; RAF Leuchars and Stornoway Airport.
Such a spaceport could be used to launch tourists into space as well as commercial satellites.
The transport secretary said the bill would create the right framework for the market to select what the best location would be.
However, Lilian Greenwood, his Labour shadow, warned the Government against moving "too far, too fast" on driverless cars and urged ministers to be aware of the safety implications.
But she acknowledged that developing the technology gave the British car industry a "great opportunity".
Drew Hendry for the SNP said what the different nations of the UK needed was not just warm words of support for good ideas but a connectivity strategy.
"A plan for air, a plan for technology, a plan for suitable, sustainable fuels, a plan for the marine operations, a plan for health and wellbeing, a plan for tourism, trade and enterprise, and a plan for productivity.
"We must see more and better work from the UK Government on these fronts,” said the Highland MP.
Ben Howlett, the Conservative MP for Bath, welcomed the Government's backing for driverless cars, saying: "I was also pleased to hear action will be taken which will ensure the UK leads the way in developing technology for driverless cars.
"Driverless cars present a unique opportunity to fundamentally change transport in this country by cutting congestion, reducing emissions and saving lives.”
But Labour backbencher Jim Fitzpatrick criticised the Government for leaving certain transport issues out of the Queen's Speech. The London MP claimed the "big absence" was on aviation expansion, with a "long overdue" decision on increasing capacity in the South East yet to be taken by the Government.
"We hope to see that that comes forward sooner rather than later," he said.
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