§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department is taking to ensure that the level of heavy diesel fuel emissions is reduced.
§ Mr. ChopeStandards for new vehicles are set by European Community directives. Amendments to the heavy duty diesel emissions directive (EC 88/77) have recently been adopted. These set two mandatory stages of emission limits, the first coming into force next July, with a more stringent second stage in 1995. This second stage is of similar stringency to the standards to be applied in the United States from 1994.
We shall be equipping all heavy goods vehicle test stations with smoke measuring instrumentation by next summer. This will offer scope to measure smoke emissions more accurately in the test station and at roadside checks, and also facilitate the introduction of tighter limits in the future.