This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34407670
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister | Diesel cars are 'killing people', says former Labour minister |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair's Labour government made a mistake in promoting diesel cars as they are now "killing people", former science minister Lord Drayson has said. | |
| In 2001, the then Chancellor Gordon Brown introduced lower vehicle tax for diesel cars, on the grounds that they were less polluting. | In 2001, the then Chancellor Gordon Brown introduced lower vehicle tax for diesel cars, on the grounds that they were less polluting. |
| That tax break remains in place today. | That tax break remains in place today. |
| Lord Drayson, whose own business invests in clean energy, now wants the current government to act to change driver behaviour again. | Lord Drayson, whose own business invests in clean energy, now wants the current government to act to change driver behaviour again. |
| He served in several ministerial roles between 2005 and 2010 and was the science minister from 2008 to 2010 in Gordon Brown's government. | |
| His comments will alarm further drivers of diesel engine cars, many of whom bought them in the first place in the belief they were less damaging to the environment. | His comments will alarm further drivers of diesel engine cars, many of whom bought them in the first place in the belief they were less damaging to the environment. |
| However Lord Drayson, who has raced electric cars, says we now have a much better understanding of the effects of diesel car emissions. | However Lord Drayson, who has raced electric cars, says we now have a much better understanding of the effects of diesel car emissions. |
| He is calling for an incentive scrappage scheme to allow diesel owners to switch to electric or hybrid vehicles. | He is calling for an incentive scrappage scheme to allow diesel owners to switch to electric or hybrid vehicles. |
| Later on Thursday, the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders will hold a conference in Birmingham on air quality. | Later on Thursday, the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders will hold a conference in Birmingham on air quality. |
| Its leader, Mike Hawes, will be speaking on a session at the conference which asks if diesel is the main problem in the air quality debate. | Its leader, Mike Hawes, will be speaking on a session at the conference which asks if diesel is the main problem in the air quality debate. |