12:07 pm, November 17, 2016
THE Government could carry out its own investigation into the Volkswagen emissions scandal, a transport minister has said, as he branded the saga ‘unacceptable’.
John Hayes said he was ‘absolutely determined’ Volkswagen should meet its legal obligations in the fallout from the affair, as he faced pressure from Labour and SNP MPs to get tough on the German car giant.
Mr Hayes told the Commons that Volkswagen had already pledged to pay the Government £1.1 million to cover costs paid by taxpayers.
Volkswagen has come under fire for fitting devices in its diesel cars that cheated emissions tests.
Speaking during transport questions in the Commons, Labour’s Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) called it ‘a scandal of huge proportions’ and said the EU was not tough enough on environmental standards.
Mr Hayes replied: ‘The Volkswagen scandal is, as he said, unacceptable. It would be unacceptable whether we were members of the European Union or whether we were not.
‘There are actually other aspects to this, however. There’s the programme of technical fixes, which Volkswagen are engaged in, which I pressed them to get on with.
‘There’s the issue of their legal obligations, which I mentioned a moment ago. But let me also be clear: I have not ruled out a separate investigation into these affairs by this Government, and I’ve told Volkswagen that.’
It came after the SNP’s Stuart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South) pressed the Government to take its own action against the company.
He said: ‘As consumers in this country look around the world, they look to New Zealand, Brazil, France, Germany, South Korea, action is being taken against companies like Volkswagen while this Government lets people down and drags its heels.’
Mr Hayes responded: ‘I can tell this House today that I’ve received a pledge from Volkswagen to pay £1.1 million, which taxpayers have had to spend as a result of their behaviour. I expect to receive that cheque just before Christmas.’
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