Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to encourage the purchase of electric and hybrid vans.

We want all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission by 2040, and we will end the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040. Our Road to Zero strategy sets out a clear pathway to zero emissions, to give clarity and certainty to industry and consumers. By 2030, we want up to 40% of new vans sold to be ultra low emission.

We are continuing to offer the Plug-in Van Grant (PiVG) until at least 2020, with current grant rates maintained until at least October 2018. The PiVG offers 20% off the price of a qualifying vehicles up to a maximum of £8,000. Up to £20,000 per van is available for the first 200 vans over 3.5t and HGVs.

The strategy sets out commitments to expand charging infrastructure significantly in order to support the roll out of electric vehicles, including consulting on proposals for chargepoints to be installed with all newly built homes in England, where appropriate. We also want all new lampposts to include charging infrastructure.

Van owners can also benefit from grant schemes to assist with the cost of installing chargepoints in the home and workplace. We will continue to ensure the tax system incentivises the purchase of the cleanest vehicles, in particular zero emission vehicles.

We have launched a consultation on a new Vehicle Excise Duty approach for vans to ensure this system incentivises the cleanest options. In addition, zero emission vans only pay a small proportion of the van benefit charge, and electric vans are not subject to van fuel benefit charge.