HC Deb 23 July 1996 vol 282 c308W
Dr. Michael Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from private cars as a result of increasing fuel duty by 5 per cent. in real terms over the next 10 years. [38797]

Mr. Clappison

The Government's long-term strategy of increasing road fuel duties by an average of at least 5 per cent. each year in real terms forms part of the United Kingdom's climate change programme and is expected to deliver annual savings of about 3 million tonnes of carbon by 2000 as a result of lower carbon dioxide emissions from all road transport. That is equivalent to about 2 per cent. of total 1990 UK carbon dioxide emissions. Estimates of the carbon savings attributable to private cars and forecasts beyond 2000 are not available.