ESSENTIAL car users, both fleet and private, will be urged to drive 'greener, cleaner, safer cars' in the Government's forthcoming integrated transport white paper. The news coincided with Vauxhall's unveiling of a range of dual-fuel liquefied petroleum gas Vectras and Omegas and Combo vans - which join the existing Combo compressed natural gas vans - at the Fleet Motor Show, each one covered by a full manufacturer parts and labour warranty.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has now confirmed that such low emission vehicles, powered either by gas or electricity will be at the heart of the white paper - expected to be published next month - and fired a warning shot across the bows of vehicle operators by highlighting the initiative of Oxford to ban all but zero and low-emission vehicles from its centre.

'The white paper is about a better transport system. We must use cars less and public transport more, and the cars we use should be greener, cleaner, safer,' he said. LPG-powered vehicles will play a key role in this, and Prescott praised the alternative fuel as 'more economic and better for the environment,' pointing out that the Government Car & Despatch Agency has converted more than 10% of its 176-strong fleet to run on LPG.