REDUCTION OF CO2 EMISSIONS FROM PASSENGER
CARS AND LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES (6204/07)
Letter from the Chairman to Rt Hon Douglas
Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport, Department for
Transport
Sub-Committee B considered this document, and
your Explanatory Memorandum, at its meeting on 16 April 2007.
We recognise the importance, in terms of both
competitiveness and the fight against climate change, of encouraging
the greatest possible reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.
However we would draw your attention to the recent report by Standard
and Poor's on the proposed new limit of 120g/km for such emissions
in new vehicles. The report concluded that the proposals posed
"a real risk to European automakers' financial performance
and credit-worthiness". Do you consider that the automotive
industry will have sufficient time to meet this target in the
period 2009-12? Could you clarify whether the concern over the
omission of any discussion of the proposal's scope on the issue
of tyre rolling resistance limits also applies to the other aspects
of the proposal?
We will await the expected legislative proposals
with interest. We are content to lift scrutiny on the Communication;
but would be grateful to you for an update should any progress
be made.
19 April 2007
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