THE Retail Motor Industry Federation is renewing its calls for annual emission tests in the light of the Government announcement on emission targets. And Powershift, the Energy Saving Trust initiative to encourage the use of alternative fuels, said particulate emissions could be reduced and other air quality targets met more quickly if clean fuel vehicles are introduced in greater numbers.

The Government should concentrate on existing technology to reduce emissions. Jonathan Murray, Powershift transport programme manager, said: 'Vehicles offering zero, or greatly reduced, particulate emissions are available now. They run on clean fuel such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas and electricity. I would like to encourage operators of vehicle fleets to adopt more of them now. We need more commitment from businesses to clean up their transport.'

Current legislation only requires vehicles to be emissions tested at the first MoT which comes when the vehicle is three years old. The RMI is concerned it is not unusual for a car to have travelled 60,000- 70,000 miles before this.