§ Lord Moranasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to implement the recommendation in paragraph 8.15 of the Eighteenth Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution that they should act to end the sale of unleaded super premium unleaded petrol.
§ Viscount GoschenThe Government have made clear their position on the sale of unleaded super premium petrol in its response to the sixth report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Transport (which was published on 17 March).
While the evidence points to marginally higher levels of aromatics, including benzene, in super premium unleaded compared to other grades of petrol, demand for this fuel accounts for less than 5 per cent, of the market and will continue to decline as older vehicles are replaced. At current levels of consumption, the use of super premium unleaded does not have significant impact on ambient levels of benzene. Ending the sale of super premium unleaded petrol could lead to increases in the use of leaded petrol.
The Government do not therefore accept the case for ending the sale of super premium unleaded petrol, but will continue to monitor the use and composition of that fuel.