§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards the production in the United Kingdom of cars which run on lead-free petrol only; when it is anticipated that such cars will be in full-scale production; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButcherThe lead in petrol directive 85/210/EEC requires that lead-free fuel be generally available throughout the Community by 1 October 1989. The precise phasing-in arrangements for new cars have not yet been decided. The Commission proposed that all new type approvals from October 1989 and all new registrations from October 1991, should be capable of running on unleaded petrol. The Government consider that it would be sensible for the vehicle directive to enable member states to require all new cars with petrol engines registered from 1 October 1989 to be capable of running on unleaded petrol. In their forward planning the vehicles industry is already taking into account these proposals.