The Mayor of London’s Office has reported a ‘broad alliance’ of business organisations and environmental charities has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond to urge him to introduce a national diesel scrappage fund.

The Mayor’s office said in a statement, “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,
– 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.”
 
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