§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the national road traffic forecasts predicting a growth of 20 to 50 per cent. in road traffic by the end of the century, the controls on vehicle emissions agreed by the Council of Environment Ministers' meetings in March will result in an improvement in air quality in the United Kingdom by the year 2000.
§ Mr. GowAlthough the Council of Environment Ministers agreed a broad framework on 20 March for stricter standards for vehicle emissions, the limit values for large and medium cars have yet to be agreed. It is not possible to say what further regulations might be in force and what effect vehicle emissions will have on air quality in 15 years' time.