Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that diesel car emissions are tested accurately; and that such emissions tests have not been falsified in the UK.

All new vehicles are tested in accordance with EU law to ensure that they meet the legislated requirements for emissions. There is no evidence that these emissions tests have been falsified in the UK.

The UK has been pressing for action at an EU-level to improve emissions tests and will continue to do so. The current test cycle is recognised as outdated and no longer represents normal driving patterns, and we have been involved in the development of a new laboratory test designed to be more representative of real driving conditions. We anticipate this will be implemented from 2017. In addition, we have been at the forefront of action at a European level to introduce real driving emissions (RDE) testing, which we believe is the best way to ensure tests accurately represent performance out on the road and ensure public confidence.