§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce incentives to London taxi drivers to convert their vehicles to use natural gas or LPG as fuel. [48688]
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§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Government recognise the important air quality advantages of cleaner taxis, such as those using road fuel gases. We already provide an incentive for drivers to use gas fuel because the tax on LPG and natural gas is already much lower than the tax on diesel. The Energy Saving Trust Powershift Programme provides grants to support the purchases of alternatively fuelled vehicles. One such grant under consideration could include gas fuelled London taxis. The Public Carriage Office are working with manufacturers to encourage the development of alternative "greener" engines and fuels.