Air Quality (Hansard, 29 June 1994)

§ 4. Mrs. Mahon
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made as to the relative risks of various forms of motor vehicle fuel for United Kingdom air quality.

§ The Minister for the Environment and Countryside (Mr. Robert Atkins)
Our assessments of the effects of various motor fuels on air quality have, over time, resulted in the introduction of unleaded petrol and a significant reduction in the use of lead in petrol. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will shortly lay before the House regulations that will lower petrol volatility and further reduce the sulphur content of diesel.

§ Mrs. Mahon
Given the growing problem of asthma, which has almost doubled in every region of Britain over the past 10 years, and the growing evidence that hydrocarbons and benzene cause cancer, is not it time for the Government to take a good, hard look at the problem and to start working towards a good public transport system so that we can reduce airborne emissions which do so much harm?

§ Mr. Atkins
As the parent of a severe asthma sufferer, I have some sympathy with the earlier part of the hon. Lady's question. However, I do not think that whether transport is private or public makes any difference to emissions—whether diesel or petrol—and the hon. Lady should clarify that in her mind. She is certainly right to suggest that the Government ought to be doing something about the matter—and we are.

§ Mr. Robert B. Jones
Does my hon. Friend agree that natural gas vehicles, especially light vans and lorries, contribute greatly to the reduction of pollution and noise? Will he seek to ensure, with my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor, that there are no tax barriers to the introduction of more of those vehicles, as that would make our streets and communities cleaner and quieter?

§ Mr. Atkins
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point as usual. I will convey his thoughts to my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor.

§ Mr. Simon Hughes
Following the report of the urban air quality review group, which I know the Minister has seen, and its recommendation to the effect that diesel fuel is now not environmentally good news, will the hon. Gentleman seriously consider, with Ministers at the Department of Transport, giving advice to consumers on what is the most environmentally acceptable form of fuel for the private motor car and what is the most environmentally sound form of transport? Perhaps that would be a better use of star ratings than giving them to hospitals in the health service.

§ Mr. Atkins
The hon. Gentleman asks an extremely confused question. I shall endeavour not to give him a confused reply. It is true that any fuel used in any vehicle cannot be said to be completely safe—of course it cannot. Therefore, the work being done by my Department, the Department of Transport and the Department of Health among others to investigate the pros and cons—the advantages and disadvantages—of different fuels is continuing. When we know which is best, we shall be in a better to position to provide answers to the hon. Gentleman's questions. Until that time, I will not be drawn.

§ Mr. George Howarth
I thank the Minister for that helpful answer. Does he agree that each form of fuel available for use in motor cars has its own risks? Does he also accept that, bearing in mind the problems with lead in some fuels, with benzene in other fuels and with particulates in diesel, the choice of which fuel to use is a baffling one from the motorist's point of view? Does he accept the European Commission expert committee's recommendation that there should be a full assessment in each member state of the relative risks of each fuel?

§ Mr. Atkins
With my hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic, I chair the green motoring forum, which exists to draw together those in the industry and those working in environmental areas to try to establish the 800 answers to just the sort of questions that the hon. Gentleman asked—so, he has a fair point. I know that there is some confusion and, as a driver of both a diesel car and a petrol car—[HON. MEMBERS: "Simultaneously?"]—not simultaneously—I should be interested to hear the specialist advice. We are certainly abiding by everything that the EC Commission has asked us to and we will continue that.

§ Mr. Mans
Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the problems about emissions into the atmosphere is that they come not from new vehicles, whatever their power source, but from used vehicles that have not been properly maintained? Would he therefore consider discussing with colleagues in the Department of Transport a tightening up of the MOT so that we can set an emissions standard for used vehicles?

§ Mr. Atkins
I am grateful to my hon. Friend. When I was the Minister responsible for roads, I was instrumental in bringing the emissions test into the MOT, so I have considerable sympathy with what my hon. Friend says. It is imperative that that standard should be improved year on year, so that we address the problems of used and old cars.