Support for Mayor of London’s proposals for national diesel scrappage fund

The office of the Mayor of London has reported that a “broad alliance” of business organisations and environmental charities has written to the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, urging him to introduce the Mayor’s proposals for a national diesel scrappage fund. In a statement issued yesterday (1 March), the Mayor’s office said: “Diesel cars and vans – many of which were purchased in good faith by drivers who wrongly thought diesel was a ‘cleaner’ option – contribute massively to London’s current toxic air pollution.

“Currently more than 9,000 Londoners die prematurely each year as a result of long-term exposure to air pollution. Air pollution in the UK is leading to 40,000 premature deaths annually, creating an economic burden of £20 billion every year.

“Today, organisations including the Federation of Small Business, London First, Greenpeace and the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association have expressed their support for the Mayor’s proposals for a national diesel scrappage fund.”

The principal recommendations of the Mayor’s scrappage fund plan include:

• payments of £3,500 to scrap up to 70,000 polluting vans and minibuses in London
• a credit scheme to help low-income households in cities scrap up to 130,000 polluting cars, with incentives for car clubs and public transport
• payments of £1,000 to help scrap up to 10,000 older polluting London taxis.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Our filthy air is a national health emergency and it is vital that the Government treat this crisis as seriously as I am doing and introduce measures that will cut air pollution and save lives.

“I am pleased that a broad alliance of business organisations and environmental charities are backing my plans for a national diesel scrappage. Now is the time for the Government to take urgent and decisive action to help get the most polluting vehicles off our roads in a fair and reasonable manner.”

The Mayor’s proposals for a diesel scrappage funds were among the issues discussed at the annual Freight in the City spring summit, which took place yesterday at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham.