HC Deb 06 February 2001 vol 362 cc459-60W
Mr. Kirk wood

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will estimate how many new and nearly new cars have high enough noxious emission ratings to qualify for a full conversion grant to LPG; [147898]

(2) if he will list the schemes funded by his Department to encourage greater use of clean fuel vehicles, indicating the sums of money devoted to each such scheme; [147900]

(3) how many grants are paid by Government sponsored schemes to encourage the use of clean fuel vehicles; [147901]

(4) what plans he has to extend the eligibility of grants for conversion to encourage the use of clean fuel vehicles. [147902]

Mr. Hill

The Powershift programme, sponsored by my Department and operated by the Energy Saving Trust, provides grants towards the cost of converting new vehicles and those less than one year old to cleaner fuels including LPG. To be eligible for grant, conversion packages must be approved as safe and effective in reducing emissions. Grants range up to 75 per cent. depending on the reduction in emissions delivered.

Conversion packages eligible for grant are available for most cars. The number of cars whose conversions could attract the full 75 per cent. grant depends on the number of different cars, and different conversion packages, chosen by consumers.

The following table summarises the number of vehicles broken down by fuel type that have received grants from the Powershift programme:

Fuel type 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–011
Liquefied petroleum gas 187 686 1,618 4,425
Natural gas 78 99 28 59
Electricity 38 47 105 82
Total 303 832 1,751 4,566
1 Up to 31 December 2000

My Department is providing Powershift with £9.9 million for the current financial year and £30 million over the next three financial years.My Department also sponsors the Clean Up programme, also operated by the Energy Saving Trust, which aims to reduce emissions from existing vehicles operating in urban areas. The programme includes projects to fit emission reduction technologies and to convert older vehicles to run on cleaner fuels where it proves cost effective and environmentally beneficial to do so. Clean Up is currently receiving £6 million for this financial year and £30 million over the next three financial years.

My Department will also spend £9 million over the next three financial years to encourage the early introduction of technologies such as hybrid and fuel cell vehicles offering significant environmental benefits.

The Clean Up programme has only just been launched. However, it has already provided grants towards the cost of converting 25 existing London taxis to run on LPG.

My Department will be consulting shortly on the future direction of the expanded Powershift programme.

Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will extend the scheme to allow new and nearly new cars to qualify for grant aid to encourage conversion to LPG and other clean fuel systems. [147899]

Mr. Hill

The Powershift programme, which is sponsored by my Department, provides grants towards the cost of converting vehicles less than one year old to cleaner fuels including LPG.

The Government have significantly extended the scale of the scheme. This year's budget is £9.9 million. This was increased in the 2000 spending review, to £30 million over the next three financial years

My Department will be consulting shortly on how the expanded Powershift programme should best be targeted in future years.