§ 11.19 a.m.
§ Lord Rodney asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What measures have been taken to promote the use of unleaded petrol in the United Kingdom.
§ Lord HeskethMy Lords, the Government have introduced a substantial duty differential in favour of unleaded petrol and will be requiring all new cars to be capable of using the new fuel by October 1990. We have taken a number of initiatives to promulgate information on unleaded petrol, where it can be obtained, and which cars can use it.
§ Lord RodneyMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that encouraging reply. It is gratifying to note that unleaded petrol will now be easier and less expensive to obtain. However, can he say whether Her Majesty's Government will consider offering any form of financial encouragement to car owners to have their vehicles modified so that they will be able to accept unleaded petrol? I understand that in some cases such modification is quite an expensive operation. If the Government really want this improvement to take effect in the short term, I think that such an incentive would be most necessary.
§ Lord HeskethMy Lords, beyond the Government offering the advantage of the reduced rate of duty on such petrol, there are no plans to offer further financial inducements. However, I should point out to your Lordships' House that most motor cars can be adjusted at very little cost to take unleaded fuel and thus should be able to take immediate advantage of the cheaper prices at the pump.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I hope that the Minister will accept that the discrimination in favour of unleaded petrol in the Budget is one of the few parts of that document with which we on these Benches wholeheartedly agree. However, can he be a little more precise about what the Government can do to assist in the development of catalytic converters which are, after all, the means by which much of the 384 environmental benefit of unleaded petrol can be brought to fruition?
§ Lord HeskethMy Lords, if the noble Lord, Lord McIntosh of Haringey, would like to put down a Question on catalytic converters I shall be more than happy to answer it.