§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the manufacturers of devices designed to remove lead from vehicle exhausts; if he has made any comparisons between the effectiveness of such devices in removing atmospheric pollution from motor vehicles compared with the elimination of lead from petrol; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe Department has kept in close touch with developments in this field and will continue to do so.
Lead emissions from vehicles were around 7,500 tonnes a year throughout the 1970s. This level has already reduced and from the end of 1985, it will drop to around 105W 2,300 tonnes a year. Should a further reduction in vehicle lead emissions be thought necessary, lead filters of 60 per cent. efficiency—a conservative estimate—would offer a comparatively quick and cheap means of reducing emissions to about 1,000 tonnes a year.