HC Deb 18 April 2002 vol 383 cc1099-100W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessments he has made of the environmental effects of electricity generation for rail use; and what comparisons he has made with the use of diesel locomotives. [49706]

Mr. Byers

The SRA commissioned work on the railway's environmental impact during 2001. The results are sensitive to factors such as the mix of sources of electricity generation, the type of diesel traction, and operational factors such as speed or loading. Given the current mix of fossil fuel, nuclear and other generative sources, carbon dioxide emissions per passenger km attributed to electric long haul express trains are about half those of some comparable diesel trains currently in operation. It is likely that the on-going introduction of more modern diesel trains will reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

With the exception of sulphur oxides, most of rail's emissions of particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds are from diesel trains. Again, the on-going introduction of more modern diesel locomotives offers benefits——for example, reducing the level of emissions per tonne-km of these pollutants.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated environmental benefit is of increasing the number passenger kilometres of rail use by(a) 10 per cent., (b) 20 per cent., (c) 30 per cent., (d) 40 per cent., (e) 50 per cent. and (f) 60 per cent. by 2010–11. [49703]

Mr. Byers

The environmental effect will vary depending on how the increase in rail passenger kilometres is achieved. An increase in rail use will, in general, cause an increase in emissions from the rail sector. However, to the extent that this is achieved through modal shift from more environmentally damaging modes, and accompanied by greater use of more fuel efficient rolling stock, there will be offsetting benefits.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment has been made as to the danger resulting from particulate emissions from road vehicles. [49449]

Mr. Byers

The Government's Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) is charged with advising the Government on the effects of pollutant types on human health. Their 'Statement on Long-Term Effects of Particles on Mortality' published in April 2001, gave a detailed assessment of the effects of particulate emissions on human health, including those from road transport. This can be seen at the Department of Health's website at www.doh.gov.uk/comeap/.

A summary of COMEAP's findings was also included in the Government's 'Air Quality Strategy Consultation Document on Proposals for Air Quality Objectives for Particles, Benzene, Carbon Monoxide and Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds', published in September 2001. Both reports were placed in the Libraries of the House on publication.