§ Mr. MillerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of(a) total motor vehicles and (b) petrol-driven vehicles in the United Kingdom are fitted with catalytic converters. [34343]
§ Mr. NorrisAt the end of June 1995, there were 4.85 million petrol-engined passenger cars equipped with three-way catalytic converters. This was equivalent to 21.85 per cent. of the total passenger car fleet which numbered 22.2 million at the end of 1994. A limited number of petrol-engined vans are also now equipped with three-way catalytic converters.
§ Mr. MillerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the earliest date that he expects all petrol-driven vehicles in the United Kingdom to be fitted with catalytic converters; and what plans he has to introduce further regulatory changes. [34344]
§ Mr. NorrisAll new petrol-engined passenger cars since 1993 and all new petrol-engined light vans since October 1994 have had to be fitted with three-way catalytic converters. The penetration of such vehicles into the parc as a whole depends on the rate of replacement, which cannot be predicted with certainty. It is nevertheless expected that the great majority of petrol-engined vehicles on the road will be equipped with catalysts by the early years of the next century.
Subject to statutory consultation and parliamentary approval, tighter controls on emissions from all vehicles in-service are to be introduced on 25 September 1995 to be followed, from 1 January 1996, by a further tightening for cars with advanced emissions control systems, such as three-way catalytic converters. Stricter emissions limits for new passenger cars will be introduced on 1 January 1997 and EC discussions on even stricter limits for the year 2000 have already begun.