asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he considers it possible to comply with the European Parliament's recommendation that the lead content of 1 litre of petrol be reduced to 0.40 grams by 1st January, 1977; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Petrol Lead Content.
141.
For economic reasons it would not be possible to comply at this stage with the recommendation of the European Parliament. The existing plant at the Whitegate refinery is not capable of producing petrol with a lead content as low as 0.4 grammes per litre, and the cost of re-equipping it to meet this standard would put its continued operation in jeopardy. The adoption of the standard would result in an increase in the consumption of petrol, thus adding significantly to our imports bill. It would also necessitate an increase in the price of petrol. Existing levels of lead pollution in the atmosphere in this country are not such as to call for the immediate implementation of this standard.