§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the environmental effects of the fuel tax escalator; and if he will make a statement. [87570]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Government regularly undertake assessments of the environmental impact of the fuel duty escalator, to inform the development of transport and environment policies. The latest estimate of the carbon savings from the escalator, published in the consultation document for the UK Climate Change Programme, stated that the escalator between 1996 and 2002 is expected to save 2–5 million tonnes of carbon in 2010. The impact of the escalator on air quality is also kept under review.