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Carbon Monoxide Emissions

Volume 181: debated on Wednesday 28 November 1990

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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what technical basis was the proposed standard of 4·5 per cent. carbon monoxide for emission testing in the MOT test determined; what proportion of the current car fleet is technically capable of meeting an emission standard of (a) 4 per cent. carbon monoxide and (b) 3 per cent. carbon monoxide at idle; and what levels of carbon monoxide are typically produced by new models of car at idle.

The proposed 4·5 per cent. carbon monoxide standard derives from EC directive 78/665, which lays down maximum levels of emissions permitted from new vehicles. There is no detailed information available on the number of vehicles that should be able to meet more rigorous carbon monoxide standards, but most modern cars should be capable of achieving lower levels provided they are tuned in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations.