§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Environment regarding exemptions to the European leaded petrol ban; [9738]
(2) what discussions he has had with his European partners regarding the exemption for classic car owners from the leaded petrol ban. [9739]
§ Mr. BowisThe Government endorse the need to sustain the continuing decline in leaded petrol sales but believe a total ban to be unnecessary. At the Environment Council on 15 October, my noble Friend the Lord Lindsay urged our European partners to adopt the UK approach of reducing sales through fiscal rather than regulatory means, thus allowing the owners of older or historic or classic vehicles to buy leaded petrol for as long as there is a market demand. Discussions are still at an early stage but there are signs that some of our European partners would share our approach.