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<p>The Government is committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from transport
as part of targets set in the carbon budget. Successive governments have been hugely
successful in this aim and consumers have benefited from more fuel efficient vehicles,
including those with petrol engines.</p><p> </p><p>At various points in time successive
governments have put in place different treatments of petrol and diesel vehicles under
transport related taxes such as Vehicle Excise Duty and Fuel Duty. Over this Parliament
neither Vehicle Excise Duty nor Fuel Duty has distinguished between petrol and diesel
vehicles.</p><p> </p><p>Diesel cars and vans have become increasingly popular, reflecting
good fuel efficiency and the improvements in engine technology. Diesel engines can
produce more air pollution than petrol engines. Successively tighter European emission
standards for new diesel vehicles has reduced particulate matter pollution and will
address emissions of oxides of nitrogen.</p><p /> <p> </p><p />
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