Dr. ThomasTo ask the Prime Minister if she will initiate a study to evaluate the total cost of converting(a) all ministerial and departmental cars and (b) all vehicles operated by Her Majesty's armed forces to lead-free petrol use.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. The Crown Suppliers (a trading fund of the Property Services Agency) who supply vehicles to various Government Departments and manage the ministerial fleet through the Government car service, and the MOD, have already implemented a policy of purchasing vehicles which can run on unleaded petrol and a programme of converting the vehicles which can be adapted to run on unleaded petrol. The cost of converting vehicles, capable of conversion, to run on unleaded petrol is minimal. In the majority of cases this involves only minor engine adjustment.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to ensure all vehicles operated by(a) Government Departments and (b) the armed forces are converted to use lead-free petrol by installation of catalytic converters.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. It is our policy that, where possible, vehicles should run on unleaded petrol. In the majority of cases this involves only minor engine adjustment. The installation of catalytic converters is not usually necessary.