Government rules out national diesel scrappage scheme in 'tyre-burning U-turn'

A national diesel scrappage scheme has been ruled out by the Government, triggering anger from environmental activists.

The prospect of offering diesel drivers compensation to trade in or modify high-polluting vehicles was raised last year as a potential measure to tackle air pollution and CO2 emissions.

But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) was accused of a “tyre-burning U-turn” after a response to a formal consultation published on Friday said: “A targeted scheme would be difficult to deliver, potentially open to abuse and could disrupt the existing car market.

“In response to these concerns we are not proposing to take forward a national scrappage scheme at this time.”

Instead, the Government said councils can still apply to run their own local scrappage schemes using cash from the Government’s £220m Clean Air Fund.

Morten Thaysen, from Greenpeace UK, said: “The Government has just performed a tyre-burning U-turn on the national scrappage scheme.

“This measure would have been a good opportunity to take polluting cars off our roads while helping drivers who bought dirty diesels on a false prospectus. Instead, ministers are once again passing the buck to local authorities.

“Illegal levels of toxic air pollution are a serious problem, but Government action is shifting from first gear to reverse.”

And a spokesman for the AA said not having a scrappage scheme is a “betrayal of those people who bought diesel in good faith, thinking they were cutting CO2 emissions and saving the planet”.

Last year, the London Mayor Sadiq Khan called on the Government to adopt a national scheme, adding at the time: “A national diesel scrappage fund is the cost effective way to deliver significant emission reductions while reducing the economic impact on those most affected, such as small businesses, charities and low income households.

“For years government has incentivised and encouraged people to purchase diesel cars; it is only fair that it now helps people to switch to cleaner alternatives.”

But Defra denied performing a U-turn. A spokeswoman said: “It is wrong to claim that we have changed our position or ruled out scrappage. We have consistently said that any potential scrappage scheme would be targeted.

“Today’s announcement confirms this position, making it clear that councils with poor air quality can put forward plans for local scrappage schemes under the Clean Air Fund.”

The Government added in its response to the consultation: “We continued to welcome the manufacturer-led scrappage schemes as a way to help some owners of older vehicles to purchase a cleaner vehicle and will continue to work with manufacturers to encourage these schemes to be available to support people to upgrade their vehicle.”