18 January, 2010.
End of the road in sight for car scrappage scheme
With funding running out Jim Hood MP is encouraging motorists in Lanark & Hamilton East to take part in the car scrappage scheme
Figures released show that more than three quarters of the budget for the Labour Government’s hugely successful scrappage scheme has been used up by individuals and families boosting UK car sales and helping the car industry through the downturn. Funding for less than 82,000 new vehicles orders is left for consumers to take advantage of under the scheme, as it nears its end.
Jim Hood MP said :
“Time is running out for you to get a great deal on a new car by trading in your old one. If you qualify and if you have been thinking about taking advantage of the scrappage scheme then now is the time.
“Labour’s car scrappage scheme has kept our car industry going during these tough times and offered great value for motorists. It shows how the Labour Government is investing through difficult times to give real help to people and protect jobs and businesses.
“We didn’t leave the industry to sink or swim during this difficult global downturn as the Tories did in the 1990s.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
- The UK scheme, with £400m from Government and matched funding from manufacturers, is intended to provide immediate support on a short-term basis to boost the car industry and its supply chain during the downturn. It has also removed older vehicles from the road and encouraged consumers to invest in new, safer, and potentially more environmentally friendly models.
- By 14th January 318,628 new vehicle orders were taken under the scrappage scheme since it was announced in the Budget in April.
- Under the final stages of the scrappage scheme manufacturers will be apportioned order quotas to aid an orderly close down of the scheme.
- Changes made to the scheme in September meant:
- Vans (up to 3.5 tonnes) registered before February 2002 and;
- V registration cars were brought under the eligibility criteria for the scheme.
- After listening to the needs of the industry, Government provided an additional £100 million of funding for the scrappage scheme. This was approved in October and the Scheme now will cover up to 400,000 transactions.
- The scrappage scheme figures are updated on a weekly basis, with all available statistics on the BIS website here: http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/automotive/scrappage/page51068.html
- The dealers will do all the paperwork for motorists participating in the scheme and arrange for the old vehicle to be scrapped. The dealer will check that the vehicle being traded in and the new one being bought qualify under the scheme.