§ Mr. O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to make it compulsory for catalytic converters to be fitted to all new cars; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Atkins[holding answer 9 July 1990]: Vehicle regulations of this sort need agreement within the European Economic Community. Now that this has been reached, the regulations laid before the House last month will mean that from 1993 onwards effectively all new petrol engined cars will need to be fitted with catalysts. Details are given in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on 8 June at columns 722–23.