§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will confirm that the exhaust emission standards for small cars supported by a "blocking minority" at the European Community Environmental Council on 16th June fell well below the standards currently applied to small cars in the United States of America.
The Earl of CaithnessThe countries referred to supported a small car standard of 5 grams per European cycle test for combined emissions of oxides of nitrogen and of hydrocarbons. This would require the same emission control technology as is currently fitted to all new cars in the United States of America. The disproportionate cost and technical difficulties of fitting such equipment to small European cars helps to explain why the range of vehicles offered to countries setting US level standards is very limited.