An announcment on the possible of battery vehicles on the roads will be made by September, MPs heard.

And the possibility found favour with UBP MP Gary Pitman , who said import duty should be reduced to provide an incentive for those who wished to drive them.

But, he added, there was concern about congestion if the vehicles were to be used by tourists.

Vehicle emissions affected the quality of life in Bermuda, and could be linked to asthma and cancer, according to studies, he said. He called upon the Government to monitor emissions in central Hamilton, in addition to other sites already in use, in order to provide data for traffic plans.

He was speaking after Transport Minister Ewart Brown said new emission legislation would include all motorised vehicles.

Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley said there was also a need to look at noise pollution. And Mr. Pitman said Police should be equipped with hand held noise testing devices, which could be used to measure the amount of noise coming from motorcycle exhausts.

They were speaking after a debate on the report titled "The Assessment of Emission Control Strategies for Motor Vehicles in Bermuda'', which was held over from the previous week.