Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has taken recent steps to prevent vehicle manufacturers from selling vehicles that contain emissions defeat devices.

The Government is committed to reducing air pollution from all forms of transport, which has significantly reduced since 2010. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA’s) Market Surveillance Unit conducts an annual emissions-testing programme to test vehicle emissions in the real world. Where testing identifies non-compliant emissions the DVSA works with the manufacturer to implement improvement plans.

In 2018, the Government strengthened restrictions against the use of illegal emissions technology by passing legislation making it an offence for manufacturers to place motor vehicles on the market which contain prohibited defeat systems. The Government will also bring forward legislation to enable it to require vehicles to be recalled on environmental grounds, as well as exploring other means of strengthening enforcement.