§ Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he has any plans to require the use of three-way catalysts on cars over 2 litres and lean burn plus oxidation catalysts on cars between 1.4 and 2 litres;
(2) what decision has been taken on implementation of the provisions of the draft European Community directive on vehicle emissions;
(3) what the estimated average cost of fitting (a) three-way catalysts and (b) lean burn auto-catalysts to new production motor cars would be.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe estimated additional capital costs to the consumer of a car over 2 litres fitted with a three-way catalyst system is £500 to £800, and of a lean burn engined car from 1.4 to 2 litres fitted with an oxidation catalyst £125.
Implementation of the draft directive, the main provisions of which were agreed by most member states at Luxembourg in June 1985, depends first on it being adopted by the Council of Ministers. At present, the draft directive is subject to reservations by Denmark and Greece.
We are planning to implement the requirement for new cars to be capable of running on unleaded petrol from the earliest dates possible under the agreement. We are currently reviewing what other provisions of the agreement could be cost-effectively implemented, taking into account the environmental benefits, capital costs, maintenance and fuel consumption costs and the prospects for harmonisation of requirements in the European Community and elsewhere.
The following vessels have been lost in unexplained circumstances in the years between 1979 and 1986 and have been described as "missing" in the Departmental records Year Missing vessel Approximate location In a designated submarine exercise area 1979 FV TARRADALE II 22.3 m overall length
27 miles east of Pentland skerries Yes FV SYLVIA MARITA 14.3 m overall length
Unknown, somewhere in the English Channel Possibly FV CARINTHIA 17.8 m overall length
30 miles north west of Noup head No FV OCEAN MONARCH 20 m overall length
94 miles east of Tafts Ness No