§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to announce how(a) the EU directive banning lead in petrol and (b) the derogation for the continued supply of leaded petrol will be incorporated into UK law. [53978]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe provisions in the EU directive which require a general ban on leaded petrol whilst allowing the continuance of a limited supply of leaded petrol, will be incorporated into UK law by means of an amendment to the Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1994. The amendment will also incorporate the directive requirements introducing improved specifications for petrol and diesel fuel commencing from 1 January 2000. The process of amendment, which includes statutory consultation and624W Parliamentary approval, will begin as soon as the directive has been formally adopted—which is currently expected later this year.
§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) which oil companies have notified him that they propose to market lead replacement petrol by 1 January 2000; [53979]
(2) if he will ensure that petrol containing lead substitutes will be widely available in rural areas from 1 January 2000. [54517]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonOil companies will not commit to the marketing of lead replacement petrol until UK regulations are enacted which ban the general sale of leaded petrol. These regulations will follow the adoption of the EC Directive, expected later this year, which introduces the leaded petrol ban. However, the UK Petroleum Industry Association have stated that the commercial opportunities for such a product are sufficiently high to ensure that few, if any, UK oil companies will decline to offer lead replacement additives from 1 January 2000, either pre-mixed with high octane unleaded petrol or offered in measured doses for use at point-of-sale. Such supplies will be widely available wherever there is a demand and there is no indication that rural areas will be disadvantaged in this regard. In the light of this, the Government do not consider it necessary to require provision of these substitutes on a statutory basis.
§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which interest groups he is liaising with about the proposed ban on leaded petrol from 1 January 2000; and how often he has met them since 1 May 1997. [53991]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe following special interest groups have been approached regarding implementation of the ban on leaded petrol:
- The UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA)
- The Association of UK Oil Independents (AUKOI)
- The Petroleum Retailers Association (PRA)
- The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT)
- The Royal Automobile Club (RAC)
- The Automobile Association (AA)
- The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC).
Two meetings with UKPIA have taken place and one meeting with each of the SMMT, AUKOI, RAC and FBHVC. Department officials will be meeting with representatives from PRA and the AA next week.
§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which specialist interest groups will distribute leaded petrol after 1 January 2000. [53992]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonNo information is available at this stage. Department officials are continuing to discuss options with interested organisations. However, the continued supply of leaded petrol will ultimately be a commercial decision which will need to take into account such matters as the practicality, safety and security of distribution—including the necessity to comply with the regulations relating to the storage of petrol—as well as potential demand. The Department's objective is to ensure 625W that, within the constraints imposed by the directive, there are no obstacles, legal or otherwise, to prevent this happening.
§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish publicity material about the proposed ban on leaded petrol; and where he plans to distribute it. [54516]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Department is preparing information about the proposed ban on leaded petrol. We are looking into the possibilities of distribution through MOT test centres, petrol stations and at specialist car events in the Autumn. The motoring organisations are also preparing publicity.
§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of and how much petrol used in Britain contained lead in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [54647]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonFigures for petrol deliveries in the United Kingdom for the last 10 years are as follows:
Year Total petrol deliveries Tonnes Leaded petrol deliveries Tonnes Leaded petrol as proportion of total (percentage) 1987 22,183,848 22,165,669 99.9 1988 23,238,048 22,980,953 98.9 1989 23,927,632 19,275,687 80.6 1990 24,307,594 16,051,618 66.0 1991 24,021,384 14,152,924 58.9 1992 23,906,094 12,701,808 53.1 1993 23,799,019 11,253,604 47.3 1994 22,842,969 9,681,199 42.4 1995 18,087,034 6,855,080 37.9 1996 22,408,607 7,177,229 32.0 1997 22,237,923 6,256,041 28.1
§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to discourage the use of petrol containing lead. [54645]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonSales of leaded petrol have already fallen to approximately 22 per cent. of total petrol sales as a result of measures such as the duty differential between leaded and unleaded petrol. This decline is expected to continue until 1 January 2000 when an EU ban on leaded petrol, as agreed by the European Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, will come into effect.
§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to reduce the use by his Department of petrol containing lead. [54644]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Department does not use leaded petrol. Of the cars supplied on contract by the Government Car and Despatch Agency for Ministerial use, six use unleaded petrol and three use liquified petroleum gas.