§ Dr. Glynasked the Minister of Transport (1) what is the estimated cost per gallon of eliminating the lead content in all fuel consumed by road users;
(2) what is the estimate of the cost of reducing the lead content for all petrol consumed by road users to a level which is considered safe by the United Kingdom and international standards.
§ Mr. FowlerThere is no international agreement about what constitutes a safe level for lead in petrol. But, under EC rules, the maximum lead content will fall to 0.40 grammes per litre from the beginning of next month. The cost of moving to completely lead-free petrol has been estimated at around £200 million per annum at 1978 prices, with an energy penalty of up to 5 per cent.