HC Deb 28 November 1988 vol 142 cc160-1W
47. Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he intends to take to encourage a reduction in carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions from vehicles in both private and public ownership.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

On 5 August, in press notice No. 418 we announced that we would be consulting in the next few months on draft regulations to bring into effect in Britain the new tighter limits on these emissions from cars and commercial vehicles agreed by the European Community in directives 88/76 EEC and 88/77/EEC. These new limits will apply to new vehicles. Our proposed timetable is as follows:

Vehicle type New type approvals All new registrations
Large cars (over 2,000 cc) 1 October 1991 1 October 1992
Medium cars (1,400–2,000 cc) 1 October 1991 1 October 1993
Small cars (under 1,400 cc) (stage 1) 1 October 1990 1 October 1991
Vans (under 2 tonnes gvw) etc 1 October 1990 1 October 1991
Vans (over 2 tonnes gvw) etc 1 October 1992 1 October 1993

Specific dates for imposing limits on gaseous emissions from all diesel-engined vehicles—mainly lorries, buses and coaches—are currently under discussion with the motor industry.