§ Mr. GouldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken to develop tougher controls over vehicle emissions within the European Community, including smoke and oxides of nitrogen from heavy diesel vehicles and carbon dioxide from internal combustion engines.
§ Mr. ChopeI have been asked to reply.
On 26 June the EC Council of Ministers adopted an amending directive setting tighter limits on emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by new cars and light vans. Among other things, the directive will require almost all new petrol-engined cars from the end of 1992 to use three-way catalytic converters and to run on unleaded petrol. Apart from meeting the same limits for gaseous emissions, diesel cars and light vans will need to comply with a strict limit on paticulates (smoke). The directive will be introduced into United Kingdom law by regulations to be laid later this year.
On 18 March the EC Council of Ministers reached a common position on an amending directive prescribing stricter limits on the same gaseous emissions from diesel-engined trucks and buses over 3.5 tonnes. Limits on emissions of particulates are also set for the first time.
242WThere will be two stages, the first to take effect in 1992–93 and the second in 1995–96, with the potential for a third, starting in 1999. The 1992–93 stage substantially reduces the limit for emissions of NOx and establishes limits for particulate emissions. The 1995–96 goes further with NOx reduction, so that the limit value will be less than half its present value and reduces the particulate.
Both directives set ambitious targets with a challenging but industrially realistic timetable, putting the United Kingdom and its EC partners on a course for substantial longer-term progress in improving the quality of air in our towns and cities.
The European Commission has yet to present to the Council of Ministers its proposals for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.