RATE OF DUTY ON BIOFUELS

Early day motion 850, tabled 6 March 2003 by Paddy Tipping (Labour). Signed by 138 members.

That this House welcomes the commitment of the Government to address climate change in the context of recent concerns expressed that the UK target for carbon dioxide reduction may be impossible to achieve; notes that the public is concerned to be able to obtain environmentally friendly transport fuels without facing the costs of purchasing hybrid vehicles or switching to liquid gas fuels; further notes that the development of a UK based supply of biofuels is supported by organisations as diverse as the Friends of the Earth, the NFU and the CLA, along with major industries, other members of the Biofuels Alliance and BABFO; further notes that recent research indicates that the use of bioethanol made from wheat or sugar beet and the use of biodiesel made from oil seed rape could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 70 per cent. compared with petrol and fossil diesel respectively; observes that these renewable biofuels would contribute at least as much to improvement in air quality as the fossil gas fuel, LPG; further notes that these environmental benefits could be realised immediately; further notes that no changes in fuel or engine specifications would be required for these biofuels to be incorporated into existing fuel distribution systems at a rate of 5 per cent.; further notes that the development of a sustainable biofuels industry in the UK would make a significant contribution to the maintenance of a thriving rural economy with revenue benefits for the Exchequer; and urges the Chancellor to announce as soon as possible a duty reduction for these environmentally friendly fuels of 30 pence per litre so that the Government's aspirations for biofuel use as expressed in the White Paper, Our Energy Future, can be realised.

Signatures by party: Labour 65, Liberal Democrat 33, Conservative 24, Labour/Co-operative 6, Plaid Cymru 4, UUP 4, Independent 1, Independent Conservative 1.