§ Lord Mottistoneasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they propose to take in response to the European Commission's recent proposal on tighter exhaust emission limits for small cars.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)We announced today that the Government have decided to back the European Commission's proposals for tight new standards for small car exhaust emissions. The Commission has proposed US-style standards for small cars to come into force in 1993 but with an interim standard for 1991.
The Government are concerned that the Community should conclude agreement as soon as possible on its protracted negotiations on small car exhaust emissions. They will therefore support the Commission's position, provided that the industrially unrealistic interim standard in 1991 is withdrawn and that there is a commitment to respect the unity of the market. This would mean that from 1993 Europe would have standards for small cars comparable with those in the US.
493WAHowever, it remains the case because these standards will require three-way catalysts, they will do nothing to control emissions of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas from cars, and may in some cases make matters worse. Here lean-burn engine technology has an important role for the future. The UK is therefore also pressing for the Commission to bring forward measures to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. This could mean, for example, setting carbon dioxide emission standards on fuel economy standards.