HC Deb 28 July 1997 vol 299 cc39-40W
Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of his Department's trials of oil seed rape for fuel with particular reference to the potential environmental benefits. [10490]

Angela Eagle

The former Department of Transport co-funded a study with the Department of Trade and Industry which resulted in a report entitled "Alternative Road Transport Fuels—A Preliminary Life-cycle Study for the UK". This report, which was published in March 1996, contains a chapter on biodiesel, which is another term for rape methyl ester produced from rape seed oil. The report statesthere is no conclusive evidence of the environmental benefits biodiesel may bring, except for reduced sulphur emissions compared with mineral diesel".

My Department is currently sponsoring comparative trials of both cleaner conventional fuels and alternative fuels, including natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and rape methyl ester produced from rape seed oil. The trials will provide a further indication of the emissions reduction potential of rape methyl ester and of the practicability, reliability and driveability of vehicles that use this fuel. The results of the trials will be published later this year.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 July,Official Report, column 124, if fuel made from rape seed oil is included in the trials of city diesel. [10489]

Angela Eagle

The comparative trials of alternative fuels which my Department is currently sponsoring include trials of vehicles fuelled with rape methyl ester which is manufactured from rape seed oil. The results of the trials will be published later this year.

Mr. Tyler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the commercial non-food uses of(a) rape seed oil and (b) chicory which his Department has evaluated. [10972]

Angela Eagle

I am aware of only one non-food use of rape seed oil which has been evaluated by my Department, and that is its use as a feedstock for the production of a fuel for road vehicles known as rape methyl ester. I am not aware of any uses of chicory which have been evaluated by my Department.