HC Deb 19 May 1999 vol 331 c353W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what efforts the Government are making to advise the British transportation industry on(a) the availability and (b) the applicability of alternative fuels [83985]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 17 May 1999]: The Government are keen to provide more information and advice on the environmental merits of different fuel and vehicle technologies, to enable fleet operators and private motorists to select cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Detailed advice on the availability and applicability of alternative fuels is already provided by the Energy Savings Trust's Powershift programme, which is funded by my Department. The Cleaner Vehicles Task Force intends to provide further information later this year about the merits of alternative fuel and vehicle technologies which are likely to emerge over the next decade. Several trade and commercial organisations also provided information on the availability of different alternative fuels.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what requirements his Department(a) has set down and (b) proposes to set down for local authorities for the purchasing of motor vehicles in respect of the use of alternative fuels. [83986]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 17 May 1999]: My Department is actively considering setting targets for the proportion of low emission vehicles that local authorities should try to achieve in their fleets.

Local authorities are not currently required to purchase alternatively fuelled vehicles. They are, however, obliged to review and assess air quality in their areas. Where they conclude that the objectives set out in the National Air Quality Strategy will not be achieved, they must designate air quality management areas and put in place action plans to improve air quality. One measure that local authorities could include in such action plans is to reduce emissions from their own fleets through the use of alternative fuels or cleaner conventionally fuelled vehicles.