No plans for car scrappage scheme

The Government has rebuffed media reports that it is planning a car scrappage scheme that would give drivers a cash incentive to swap their old vehicles for a new one. Transport academics and other professionals wrote to the Government last month, urging that any such scheme should only apply to zero emission vehicles because of the statutory net zero 2050 target for greenhouse gases (LTT 26 Jun). Transport minister Rachel Maclean replied to the letter’s co-ordinator, Steve Melia of the University of the West of England, saying: “A number of media articles have suggested that the Government is considering a scrappage scheme. The Government has no plans at this stage to introduce a scheme.”