To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she continues to support the European Commission target of reducing average emissions from new cars sold in the EU to 130g/km by 2012. (164631)

We want to see challenging but achievable new car CO₂ targets. Ambitious mandatory targets are the best way to send strong signals to manufacturers to make major investments in new technology confidently. We therefore welcome the ambition shown by the Commission in suggesting a target of 130 g/km by 2012 but we also recognise, as the European Parliament recently has, that this would be extremely challenging given the length of lead times in the automotive sector.

We also believe that continued improvement is best achieved by setting a framework for the longer term. We are pressing for a second ambitious EU target, of 100g/km by 2020, or no later than 2025.