John Leech MP calls on Government to get tough on Gas Guzzlers

10.45.52pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 27th Jul 2006

Withington Liberal Democrat MP John Leech has urged the Government to take a tougher line on reducing pollution caused by cars.

New limits to reduce the amount of exhaust emissions allowed are going to be introduced by the EU. However, the Government wants to exempt heavy passenger vehicles (people carriers) from the new limits.

Speaking during a parliamentary debate on vehicle emissions, Lib Dem Shadow Transport Minister John Leech MP told the Transport Minister that he was wrong to seek to exempt these vehicles. John Leech also called for the rules to be toughened up so that manufacturers have to guarantee that their engines will keep to the new emission limits for twice as long as currently planned.

John Leech MP said:

"Large passenger vehicles are among the most polluting vehicles around. They also use far more fuel than most other cars - that's why they are called gas guzzlers. I find it amazing that the government wants to allow motor manufacturers to carry on producing such cars with an exemption on reducing the amount of pollution they cause. This not will not only mean more exhaust emissions but also sends out the wrong signal about the type of cars people should drive. The government should be encouraging people to use smaller, less polluting cars which use less fuel, instead of large vehicles, which are bad for the environment."

"If the government was really serious about improving air quality in the UK they would toughen the new emission limits up to include all cars and increase the mileage that the limits apply for."

End

Notes to editors:

Text of some of John Leech's contribution to the debate from Hansard:

European Standing Committee

Monday 17 July 2006

[Mr. Peter Atkinson in the Chair]

Vehicle Type Approval: Emission Limits

Mr. Leech:

We welcome the proposed regulation as a further step forward to reducing emissions and improving air quality. It is essential to help to achieve our targets, although clearly much more still needs to be done.I agree with the Minister's assertion in his explanatory memorandum of 26 January that the proposal will have a "significant impact" on the vehicle manufacturing sector. However, I do not accept that the projected increase in costs will adversely affect the industry. Being forced into reducing emissions could in fact lead the industry to be more competitive in markets outside the EU. That is especially true for diesel vehicles. Cleaner diesel technology will help to expand the global diesel market and make European technology exportable to the rest of the world.

I also disagree with the Minister's concerns regarding extension of the durability period for emissions control systems from 80,000 to 160,000 km. That extension gives a signal to manufacturers that it is important for good emissions performance to be sustained for the whole life of the vehicle, not just at the beginning of the life of the vehicle.

I believe that the Minister is also wrong to seek a temporary retention of the current allowance system for heavy passenger cars. Despite his attempts at assuring me otherwise, I believe that that sends the wrong signal about our commitment to discouraging the use of bigger polluting vehicles.

Finally, on vehicle repair information, this measure is a welcome step forward in levelling the playing field for all repairers. It should, we hope, drive down costs for the repair of vehicles.