§ 2.35 p.m.
§ [The Question was follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government—
- (1) If it is a fact that cars for export to the U.S.A. are being fitted with a device to cut down the dangerous pollution caused by exhaust fumes;
- (2) If research has shown that the device is effective both for petrol and for diesel;
- (3) If so, whether Her Majesty's Government will consider making this a required fitting to vehicles for the home market.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, as the answer to parts (1) and (2) of the noble Lord's Question is in the negative, the answer to part (3) must necessarily be the same.
LORD GRENFELLMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his Answer, I would say that it must be that the papers which described this device were wrong. It was stated in the daily papers that cars were being exported with this device fitted to them.
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I do not wish to appear in any way discourteous to my noble friend. I would suggest either that the papers to which he refers were wrong, or else that there has perhaps been, if I may suggest it, some slight technical confusion between the elimination of exhaust fumes and fumes of other types which are not covered by the Question we are discussing.