Mayor of London proposes diesel vehicle “scrappage” scheme

Sadiq Khan believes the drivers should receive up to £3,500 to scrap old diesel vans and replace them with more environmentally friendly vehicles.

This is because of the amounts of nitrogen dioxide emitted by diesel cars, which is playing a part in London’s poor air quality.

Khan has called on the government to introduce the scheme which would offer incentives for people to get rid of their diesel cars.

It is estimated that it would cost around £500 million. In addition to this, Khan thinks that car tax should be changed so that it is no longer in favour of diesel transport.

He said: “The toxic state of our air leaves us with no choice but to rid our city of the most polluting diesel vehicles.

“It is shocking that nearly half of new car sales in the UK are still diesel vehicles and the national system of vehicle excise duty still incentivises motorists to buy these polluting cars.

“I’m urging the government to immediately review this policy, and today I’ve delivered a detailed report on how it can deliver an effective national diesel scrappage fund."

Khan added: "One that both fairly compensates motorists and rapidly helps clean up our filthy air.”

Recommendations have since been presented to the chancellor, Phillip Hammond MP, the secretary of state for transport, Chris Grayling, and others within parliament.

This includes proposals for London van drivers to receive £3,500 towards the cost of a cleaner vehicle, credit of £2,000 to low-income homes to be spent on an alternative mode of transport, and payments of £1,000 to go towards scrapping up to 10,000 older London taxis.