asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on his continuing review of the cost and advantages of fitting lead filter traps to car exhausts.

Lead traps are technically feasible as a means of restricting lead emissions from petrol-engined vehicles; but their advantages have not yet been conclusively demonstrated and can in any event be realised only if this particular method of curbing lead pollution is generally adopted within the EEC. The costs involved are to be considered further as part of a wider study of the costs of possible long-term measures for further limiting lead pollution from petrol.