Written question asked by Martyn Jones (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 December 1996. It was answered by John Watts (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 December 1996 on behalf of the Department of Transport.

Dept of Transport

Question: What assessment he has made of the (a) feasibility and (b) desirability of encouraging industrial innovation to reduce the environmental disbenefits of current models of bus.

Answer: Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the (a) feasibility and (b) desirability of encouraging industrial innovation to reduce the environmental disbenefits of current models of bus; and if he will make a statement. [9215] Mr. Watts: There is no doubt that industrial innovation can help to reduce the environmental disbenefits of buses. This has already been demonstrated by the technological advances that are now being applied to new diesel engines in order to meet the tighter emission standards for heavy vehicles, including buses, that came into force on 1 October this year. My Department works closely with both our European partners and the European Commission to develop progressively tighter emissions standards, a strategy which is providing extremely successful in encouraging industrial innovation and results in significant reductions in emissions from all categories of vehicle.

Secondary information