§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether any consultations have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States of America about that country's experience of changing to lead-free petrol.
§ Mr. David HowellThe Government have conducted studies of a number of reports on the American experience published by American organisations, including Government agencies. However, there have been no direct formal consultations between our Governments on this specific issue.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 5 February, Official Report, column 229, if he will publish in the Official Report the calculations which led to the conclusion that the cost of using lead-free petrol could be £250 million to £300 million every year in comparison with 1980.
§ Mr. David HowellThe 5 per cent. increase in crude oil consumption is based on the relative fuel efficiency of engines with different compression ratios, taking account of the composition of the 1978 United Kingdom fleet of petrol engined vehicles.
Crude oil consumption for petrol in 1980 totalled 20 million tonnes and, assuming a price of £300 per tonne—1980 prices—in the year 2000, a 5 per cent. increase would cost £300 million.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 5 February, Official Report, column 229, what estimates have been made of the increased investment needed by the motor industry to redesign and make car engines capable of using lead-free petrol; and if he will publish these.
§ Mr. David HowellEstimates made in 1978 are contained in the report of the Department's working party on lead in petrol, a copy of which is in the Library. Paragraphs 70 to 77 give the figures at 1978 prices.