Carbon Dioxide Emissions

HC Deb 19 April 1999 vol 329 c412W

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the steps taken since 1 May 1997 to reduce total carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector.[81267]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Action to reduce CO₁₂ emissions from transport is a key element of our approach to tackling climate change. Since coming into office, this Government have taken a number of measures designed to reduce transport CO₂ emissions. These include the integrated transport measures detailed in last year's White Paper, "A New Deal for Transport", the proposed reforms of vehicle excise duty and company car taxation, and also raising the annual increase in fuel duty to 6 per cent. In addition, we fully support the European Union's strategy for reducing CO₂ emissions from cars, including the voluntary agreement with European car manufacturers, which commits them to a 25 per cent. reduction in average new car fuel consumption by 2008.