22 April 2009
Budget - Scrappage scheme condemned
Transform Scotland today (Wednesday 22nd) criticised the scrappage scheme introduced in the Budget.
Director Colin Howden said:
"The Chancellor's scrappage plans are a blow for moves to sustainable transport. The Chancellor could have used this as an opportunity to incentivise purchase of cleaner cars, but instead this appears to be a hand-out to purchase any car however polluting they may be.
"The scrappage scheme will surely also undermine the proposals for supporting the purchase of electric cars, announced only last week. Where is the incentive for consumers to purchase electric cars some time in the future if they can get a hand-out now to buy any gas-guzzler? Scrappage schemes, if brought in, make no sense unless they at least incentivise the purchase of electric cars, hybrid cars or cars with emissions at or below the EU target emission standard.
"With other sectors of the British public sector facing budget cuts, it is surely counter-productive to be subsisiding Britain's foreign-owned car industry. And as Scotland makes no cars, and hasn't done so for decades, it is not clear what benefit the scrappage scheme has for the Scottish economy."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
[1] Transform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, businesses and local transport groups - see <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/our-members.aspx> for details.
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