§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to encourage the design and production of cheaper and smaller passenger and goods vehicles using diesel, economic petrol engines, or electric drive using either direct pick-up and/or battery charging techniques to encourage the use of rubber tyre on tarmac or concrete in order to make the best use of the existing road network and justify continued expenditure on providing for this type of flexible transport.
§ Mr. MulleyAs announced in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Smith) on 19th February—Vol. 886, c.413–14.]—the Transport and Road Research Laboratory has published a report showing that even on a cautious basis the total number of vehicles is forecast to continue to rise substantially. There is, therefore, no evidence of any risk of lack of use of the existing road network in the short- to 142W medium-term. The Department is engaged in a research programme to establish for the longer term, the parameters associated with use of different types of fuel for passenger and goods vehicles. Encouragement of the development and design of cheaper vehicles offering economy in energy consumption is the responsibility of the Department of Industry.