§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further proposals he has to reduce carbon emissions from road traffic.
§ Mr. KeyWe have already introduced measures to address the problem of carbon emissions from vehicles.
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Year Core business capital grant Core business revenue support grant New lines and extensions capital grant Total grant Cash Prices 1978 64 56 — 120 1979 97 60 — 157 1980 116 102 — 218 1981 135 82 — 217 1982 126 186 — 312 1983 167 175 — 342 1984–851 137 186 — 323 1985–86 182 125 — 307 1986–87 224 66 — 290 1987–88 159 44 — 203 1988–89 150 20 — 170 1989–90 204 44 — 248 1990–91 366 74 2 442 1991–92 405 103 65 573 1992–93 546 254 83 883 1993–94 506 66 120 692 1994–952 360 13 527 900 1995–963 477 — 453 930 1996–973 556 — 431 987 1993–94 prices 1978 184 161 — 345 1979 238 147 — 385 Our fuel duty strategy, which gives a commitment to annual increases in fuel duty of at least 5 per cent., is estimated to save 2.5 million tonnes of carbon in the year 2000. This represents one quarter of the total carbon dioxide emissions the United Kingdom aims to save under the climate change convention. No other European state has given such clear long-term signals on fuel duty movements.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish his Department's assessment of the impact and effectiveness of the most recent change of regulations regarding vehicle exhaust emissions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KeyNew emissions limits, which came into force on 31 December 1992, effectively require new cars to be fitted with catalytic converters which reduce emissions of carbon monoxide—CO—hydrocarbons—HC—and oxides of nitrogen—NOx—by over 75 per cent. Similar measures will apply to new light vans from 1 October 1994. Some three million cars are already fitted with catalytic converters.
From 1 October 1993, emission limits for new diesel-engined trucks and buses over 3.5 tonnes, were reduced by 60, 50 and 45 per cent. respectively, for CO, HC and NOx, and a limit on particulates set for the first time. A further reduction, to be implemented in October 1996, by halving the particulate limit, will increase the level of stringency to that soon to be applied in the United States.