Unleaded Petrol (Hansard, 25 July 1997)

§ Mr. Chidgey
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many cars have been modified for use of unleaded petrol in each of the last five years. [10251]

§ Ms Glenda Jackson
The information required is not held centrally. Most modifications to vehicles to enable them to run on unleaded petrol are likely to have taken place in the years immediately following the introduction of unleaded petrol in April 1987, encouraged by the duty differential in favour of that product. This is reflected in the rapid increase in unleaded petrol sales to 40 per cent. of total petrol sales by April 1991. From that date, subsequent increases in the sales of unleaded petrol are likely to be attributable primarily to the statutory requirement for new petrol-engined vehicles, with some time-limited exemptions, to be designed and constructed so as to be able to run on unleaded petrol, and from 1993, to the need for catalyst-equipped vehicles to use only unleaded petrol.

§ Mr. Chidgey
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of(a) cars, (b) motor cycles and (c) light goods vehicles, which are able to use (i) four-star petrol only, (ii) unleaded petrol only and (iii) either four-star petrol or unleaded petrol. [10249]

§ Ms Glenda Jackson
Vehicles which are able to use only unleaded petrol are generally those fitted with catalytic convertors. An estimated 7 million petrol-engined cars and light good vehicles are so fitted. An estimated 1.3 million cars and light goods vehicles not fitted with catalytic convertors must be able to use unleaded petrol. In addition some 604,000 motor cycles are estimated to be able to use unleaded petrol. The remaining 12.4 million cars and light goods vehicles and 130,000 motor cycles were originally designed to use leaded petrol. However, the experience of countries such as the United States and Sweden indicates that most of these can safely use premium or super-unleaded petrol as an alternative, with the addition of a lead-replacement additive if it is felt necessary to afford a greater degree of protection against the possibility of increased seat wear.