§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue a statement on his Department's plans to reduce motor vehicle pollution over the next 10 years. [131278]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government's Powering Future Vehicles Strategy, published in July 2002 and available via the Department's website, sets out our plans for promoting the development, introduction and take-up of clean, low carbon vehicle technologies and fuels in the UK. We will be publishing a first progress report on the implementation of this Strategy very shortly. Emissions of key air pollutants from motor vehicles are set to fall by about 30 per cent. over the next decade as progressively tighter European regulations come into effect for new vehicles, and as older, more polluting vehicles drop out of circulation. The Government is also playing a constructive role in discussions in Europe on future vehicle emission standards for the period from 2010 onwards.
§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support the Department plans to give to low pollution fuel initiatives. [131279]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government is always prepared to consider supporting the introduction and use of clean fuels where these offer proven environmental benefits. We have an excellent track record of incentivising cleaner fuels by means of fuel duty incentives. Decisions on fuel duty levels are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. My Department also runs a number of grant programmes which can help support the introduction of clean, low-carbon vehicles and fuels. Details of these are available via the Transport Energy website at http://www.fransportenergv.org.uk.