§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the increase in carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen discharges to the atmosphere that would result in the United Kingdom from the upper projections of road traffic in his Department's White Paper "Roads to Prosperity".
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleForecasts of emissions of carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen from road traffic sources are currently being prepared and will be published in due course. The actual increases in emissions will depend on632W the success of the Government's policies to increase fuel efficiency and cut gaseous emissions as well as other factors such as economic growth, levels of road congestion and changing patterns of land use. Tigher controls on the amount of oxides of nitrogen which can be emitted by vehicles have been agreed in the European Community. There is also considerable scope for improving the fuel efficiency of vehicles, which will lower the emission of carbon dioxide. We are examining ways of encouraging improvements in fuel efficiency with our partners in the European Community.