§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce measures to provide for localised traffic bans to be imposed at times of high pollution incidence.
§ Mr. KeyThe Government are not yet convinced of the cost-effectiveness of such measures. The introduction of catalytic converters on new petrol-engined cars through directive 91/441/EEC has resulted in overall reductions in regulated emissions of up to 80 per cent. from these vehicles. The next stage of emission reductions is now agreed for 1996–97 with a further enhanced package of measures under consideration for the year 2000. There are new emission limits for heavy-duty vehicles already agreed for the year 1996 with further requirements being considered for the year 2000. The result of these measures will be a considerable reduction in transport-related emissions until well into the next century.
Other measures that will benefit local air quality include encouraging the use of public transport, cycling and walking and, for the longer term, considering the possible benefits of congestion charging and the use of the planning system to reduce the need to travel by car. That last is addressed in the Government's recently published planning policy guidance note 13 on transport and land use planning.