Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring diesel cars to undergo a particulate filter efficiency test as occurs in The Netherlands.

Some initial research has been undertaken by the Department relating to availability of equipment for checks of functioning diesel particulate filters. Where emissions control equipment fitted by a vehicle manufacturer is missing, obviously modified, or defective, the vehicle will not pass its annual MOT test. The Department for Transport keeps the requirements of the MOT test under review and we note with interest the developments that have taken place in parts of Europe.