Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) meetings and (b) correspondence the Government has had with the German Government on steps against Volkswagen after its manipulation of data emissions.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
It is for the German Government as the responsible authority in the first place to take legal action. Ministers have regularly raised this issue with their German counterparts. The Government will continue to press the new German administration to seek a successful outcome.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 24 April 2017 to Question 71366, on Diesel Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions, whether the Government has provided any assistance to customers or their legal representatives in their bid for civil action against Volkswagen.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department continues to engage with the firms that are pursuing legal action against Volkswagen and has responded to their requests for information and assistance when appropriate. We will continue to monitor the progress of their action.
The Department also responds to many requests for further information about the issue from members of the public and has met with a group of VW customers with affected vehicles.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government has taken to (a) quantify the amount and (b) assess the effect of extra air pollution produced by cars affected by emission data manipulation in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
We are unable to estimate accurately the air quality impacts resulting from Volkwagen’s actions as it is not possible to quantify the additional emissions of the affected vehicles under all conditions of operation.
However the Department has made a comparison of the old software to the new ‘fix’ software under test track conditions. Results from tests of four Skoda vehicles (Roomster, Rapid, Superb and Octavia) indicate 25-40% lower NOx emissions with the new ‘fix’ software.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to bring forward legislative proposals to make the manipulation of emissions data a criminal offence attracting (a) custodial sentences and (b) financial penalties.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government recently consulted on proposals to strengthen the penalties available for the use of prohibited defeat devices. The details of our proposals are set out in this consultation document -https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/road-vehicles-improving-air-quality-and-safety. We are now considering the responses to decide how to proceed.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cars of what makes in departmental fleets were affected by Volkswagen's manipulation of emissions data; what the cost was to the public purse of such fleet cars purchased or hired that were so affected; and what the cost was to the public purse of rectifying the faulty devices on those cars and of hiring or buying replacement vehicles as a result of those faulty devices.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Government Car Service fleet has no VW vehicles and was unaffected.
Information on departmental fleets across Government is not centrally held.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cars of what makes in the Government Car Service were affected by Volkswagen's manipulation of emissions data; what the cost was to the public purse of the purchased or hired cars in that service that were affected; and what the cost was to the public purse of rectifying the faulty devices on those cars and of hiring or buying replacement vehicles as a result of those faulty devices.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The Government Car Service fleet has no VW vehicles and was unaffected.
Information on departmental fleets across Government is not centrally held.