THE message that vehicles must become more environmentally acceptable is being taken on board by the motor industry, according to Transport Minister Gavin Strang. Strang was speaking after a visit to Johnson Matthey in Hertfordshire - a world leader in the development and manufacture of vehicle exhaust catalysts - in the run-up to the first meeting of the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force.

The Task Force, co-chaired by Strang and Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders president, Ford of Britain chairman Ian McAllister, is a public-private sector partnership formed to promote use of existing and new environmental technologies in vehicles. Its aims include encouraging use of clean vehicles and promoting research and development which will keep Britain at the leading edge of cleaner vehicle technology, and these were among issues discussed at the inaugural meeting.

Strang said: 'Britain is at the cutting edge of greener vehicle technology. The Government is also committed to research and development to make the car of the future less environmentally damaging. We are also keen to see action cutting pollution from existing vehicles. There is scope for retro-fitting older vehicles with catalytic converters and traps.'