BOLTON MP Dr Brian Iddon has asked Chancellor Gordon Brown to slash tax on natural gas in tomorrow's Budget to persuade more drivers to use the fuel in their cars.

The Labour backbencher has backed a Commons Motion urging action in tomorrow's tax and spending statement to promote the use for such vehicles to cut air pollution and improve public health.

Currently the duty in Britain on natural gas as a motor fuel is higher than in the rest of the European Union.

The Motion says: "We recognise that vehicles powered by natural gas can help to combat air pollution because their emissions are cleaner and less detrimental to public health.

"We note that for Britain to reap these environmental benefits there now needs to be a switch from traditional fuels in greater numbers and this is unlikely unless the economics of purchase and running costs are an incentive for fleet operators.

"We therefore call on the government to consider an immediate reduction in the road fuel duty for natural gas to the EU minimum of 8p per kilogramme as in neighbouring countries and, by this means, to stimulate demand for an investment in natural gas vehicles to reduce air pollution from road transport."

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