§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has achieved the agreement of all the United Kingdom's European Community partners to lead-free petrol.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe United Kingdom initiative calling for the introduction of unleaded petrol was supported by the Governments of Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark at the Environment Council meeting in June. The Council agreed to seek the maximum possible reduction of lead in petrol on the understanding that this might extend to its complete elimination. The EC Commission was asked to draw up appropriate proposals, and a working group of experts is examining the question in detail and will report early next year. We will be discussing the matter further at the next Environment Council meeting at the end of November; and again when the Commission has made its report. It is our objective to press for a Community-wide agreement to require the use of unleaded petrol for new cars from the earliest practicable date.