HC Deb 19 July 2001 vol 372 cc358-9W
Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance the Government have issued on the safety of converting vehicles to use autogas. [4523]

Mr. Jamieson

The guidance on the safety of converting vehicles to use autogas is contained within UK legislation. The Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 1998 (Statutory Instrument 1998 No. 2884) provides the technical standards for the use of compressed natural gas and Regulation 94 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (Statutory Instrument 1986 No. 1078) provides the technical standards for the use of liquefied petroleum gas.

Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidelines have been issued to licensing authorities about the use of private hire vehicles which use autogas. [4522]

Ms Keeble

The licensing of private hire vehicles is a matter for local licensing authorities (district/borough councils, unitary authorities or Transport for London). They will decide which vehicles, including the types of fuel used, are suitable for licensing according to local conditions and circumstances. We support local policies which encourage the licensing of vehicles which use cleaner fuels.

Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to encourage the use of autogas in motor vehicles. [4521]

Mr. Jamieson

The Government are encouraging the market for autogas (liquefied petroleum gas or LPG) in a number of ways. For example, as part of the response to the Green Fuels Challenge the Chancellor announced in Budget 2001 a cut in duty of 6p/kilogramme on LPG to maintain the current differential with conventional fuels, and a commitment not to increase the duty in real terms until at least 2004.

The Powershift programme, which is funded by the DTLR, has a budget of £30 million over the next three years—with £9.91 million for this financial year which will provide grants towards the purchase of around 10,000 clean fuel vehicles, many of which will use LPG. The Powershift programme has been successful in stimulating the development of a LPG infrastructure: there are now over 790 LPG refuelling stations in the UK.

The new vehicle excise duty and company car taxation regimes also provide concessions for vehicles using LPG.