§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimation of the weekly increase in usage of petrol if the lead content were eliminated.
§ Mr. StrangMany current motor vehicle engines can only be run on high octane petrol which involves using lead. With lead-free petrol, octane ratings would have to be reduced and new engines would be required to use it. It is not possible to estimate, with any realism, the increase in petrol consum-tion if lead were eliminated, nor the amount of extra crude oil required to make the lead-free petrol. But the cost would certainly be high.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated weekly increase in petrol usage now that the speed limit has been restored to 70 miles per hour.
§ Mr. StrangThe estimated increase in petrol usage resulting from the restoration of the 70 mph speed limit on all roads including motorways would be 3 per cent. if motorists reverted to their 297W pre-crisis speeds. To the extent that motorists have responded to the request of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport for continued restraint it would be less.