Britain suffers from the most congested roads, the longest commuting times and some of the highest public transport fares in Europe, the Commission for Integrated Transport has found.

The study said the road and rail networks have been "starved of investment for over half a century" and argued that public spending on infrastructure projects was still behind that of most EU states.

The study was ordered two years ago by John Prescott, then in charge of transport policy, to identify "benchmarks" for measuring Britain against elsewhere in Europe.

Forum Response: London Underground

A spokesman for London Underground told ePolitix.com: "The findings of this report confirm why we are so keen to get the PPP for London Underground up and running because it will reverse the years of under investment which have undermined London's transport system."

Institute of Directors

A spokesman for the Institute of Directors told ePolitix.com: "The findings of this latest study on road congestion comes as little surprise. Of even more concern, however, is the probability that the government's 10-year transport plan will have minimal effect on easing road congestion.

"A recent IoD report showed that while total road traffic is set to increase by 17 per cent by 2010, congestion will be little changed from current levels and unless a dual strategy of congestion charging and road building is implemented road misery will continue.

"From a business perspective the status quo will very soon become unacceptable and more radical solutions will be demanded, in contrast to the rationing by congestion currently on offer."