§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he will take to reduce the exposure of individuals to benzene resulting from petrol evaporation; and what discussions he has had with petrol companies and vehicle manufacturers concerning minimising exposure to benzene.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleA number of steps have been taken, and are planned, to reduce evaporate emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which include benzene, from the storage, distribution and use of petrol.
The Government are in the process of adopting from the end of this year an EC directive setting stringent standards for the reduction of carbon monoxide, the combined total of hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen and evaporative emissions. Those measures will, in practice, require new cars to be fitted with catalytic converters in their exhaust systems that will reduce VOCs in car exhaust by about 75 per cent.
The Government also have plans to adopt a new European standard for unleaded petrol next year. It will include lower "volatility" criteria, which will reduce evaporative emissions. The same volatility criteria will also be applied to leaded petrol.
246WThe Government are co-operating with the European Commission in the drafting of directives which will reduce evaporative emissions from the storage and distribution of petrol and during car refuelling.
The Government are in dialogue with both oil and motor industries on these matters.