HC Deb 17 July 1972 vol 841 cc4-6
3. Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies his Department has made of car exhaust emission and safety standards legislation of foreign countries, in view of their restrictive effects on British car exports.

The Minister for Industrial Development (Mr. Christopher Chataway)

My Department keeps in touch with developments overseas, and co-operates closely with the Department of the Environment in encouraging the adoption of common standards in Europe and elsewhere.

Mr. Huckfield

Does the Minister realise that there may be particular difficulties for British manufacturers of smaller cars in meeting the stringent regulations based on the unique smog conditions of Los Angeles? Is he absolutely sure that all foreign companies, particularly those in the United States, are applying these regulations with the same stringency to their own domestic manufacturers as they are to their imports?

Mr. Chataway

The hon. Gentleman refers to the regulations prevailing in the United States, but I have no reason to believe that those regulations are applied any differently to American manufacturers from the way in which they are applied to British and other foreign manufacturers, nor do I believe that British industry is incapable of meeting those standards.

Mr. Skeet

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the removal of tetraethyl lead from petrol will lead to very substantial upgrading in the price of petrol?

Mr. Chataway

As my hon. Friend knows, discussions on this matter are taking place and I would ask him to await the outcome.

Mr. Pardoe

Is the Minister aware that, whatever fears he may have about the effect on British car exports, he and his Department should do nothing to pressurise companies into having lower standards of emissions from exhausts than the standards which apply in the United States?

Mr. Chataway

Our immediate concern is to co-ordinate action in this respect in Europe. This is one field among many in which common standards with our European partners make obvious sense.

Mr. Alan Williams

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the adequacy of standards is as important as the question of co-ordination? The Government have propounded the principle that the polluter must pay the cost of clearing his own pollution, and indeed have imposed an extra cost of £1 million on the British Steel Corporation to clear up some of the debris left by the private sector. Is the right hon. Gentleman's Department having any discussion with the industry to see whether it would be practicable to impose stricter controls on car exhaust emissions in this country?

Mr. Chataway

Yes, Sir; in co-operation with the Department of the Environment we are having discussions with the companies.