§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact on pollutant emissions of introducing a tax differential between diesel fuel products based on the level of pollution they generate. [4864]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonProvision has been made for a duty differential of 1p per litre between ultra low sulphur diesel and conventional diesel fuel and this will be introduced when we have completed the procedure of obtaining the necessary EU derogation. This is imminent. It is expected that the effect of this differential on pollutant emissions will increase as supplies of ultra low sulphur diesel become more readily available. It is still too early to judge what the final impact of the existing differential might be.