HL Deb 22 April 1970 vol 309 cc710-1

2.40 p.m.

LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have on the use of platinum as a catalyst for the suppression of pollution by internal combustion engines.]

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, platinum catalysts substantially reduce the emission of exhaust gases, but are expensive and would have a short life in engines using currently available types of fuel. There are other, possibly more appropriate, methods of achieving any reduction of such emissions which may, after full consideration of the subject, be found desirable.

LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. Have the Government made a comparative study of this and other systems, and have they issued any instructions to the oil or motor industries as a result of those evaluations?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, naturally we have given consideration to this, but we have not given instructions. If this particular method were adopted, all of us would need to move away from petrol that contains lead. That of course would mean major reorganisation and development in the petrol companies and, I fear, would add quite substantially to the cost of petrol.