Thank you to everyone who signed the open letter to ministers about the mooted car scrappage scheme and the consultation on phasing out petrol and diesel cars. I have just received the reply below:
From the Parliamentary
Under Secretary of State
Rachel Maclean MP
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Our Ref: MC/295963
30 June 2020
Dear Dr Melia
Thank you for your email of 17 June, enclosing an open letter to the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Transport, about a car scrappage scheme and the Government’s consultation on phasing out of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans. I am replying as the Minister responsible for this issue.
A number of media articles have suggested that Government is considering a scrappage scheme. The Government has no plans at this stage to introduce a scrappage scheme. Rather, the Government is investing around £2.5bn, with grants available for ultra-low emission vehicles, as well as funding to support charge point infrastructure at homes, workplaces, on residential streets and across the wider roads network.
As you note in your letter, on 4 February the Prime Minister announced that the Government is consulting on bringing forward an end to the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040 to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition appears feasible, including hybrids for the first time. This follows our manifesto commitment and reflects the independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC) advice that the phase out date should be 2035 or ideally 2030, and that only battery electric or other zero emission vehicles should be permitted to be sold after this point. The CCC has advised that this is an important step in the UK’s aim to end our contribution to climate change by 2050. Last year, the UK became the first major economy to legislate for a net zero target by 2050.
The Government recognises that stakeholders will have a diverse range of views on this subject, so the consultation process will help inform our thinking on what the appropriate measures to achieve a faster transition will need to be. Your views and the issues you raise will be added to the consultation responses for consideration.
Yours sincerely
RACHEL MACLEAN
PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT
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