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| 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. | 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. | 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 come in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal in which the German car maker was found to have rigged tests to make its diesel vehicles appear to emit less pollution. | His comments come in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal in which the German car maker was found to have rigged tests to make its diesel vehicles appear to emit less pollution. |
| About 11 million vehicles worldwide are affected, of which almost 1.2 million were in the UK. | About 11 million vehicles worldwide are affected, of which almost 1.2 million were in the UK. |
| The former minister's views will further alarm drivers of diesel cars, many of whom bought them believing 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. |
| Defending diesel | Defending diesel |
| Later on Thursday government officials and figures from business will attend the National Air Quality Conference in Birmingham. | Later on Thursday government officials and figures from business will attend the National Air Quality Conference in Birmingham. |
| The chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Mike Hawes is due to make a speech there and will say: | The chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Mike Hawes is due to make a speech there and will say: |
| "It would be wrong to penalise all diesels. The latest diesel vehicles are the cleanest ever with particulate emissions all but eliminated by filters and sophisticated after treatment systems effectively reducing nitrogen oxide levels by 92% compared to earlier generations. | "It would be wrong to penalise all diesels. The latest diesel vehicles are the cleanest ever with particulate emissions all but eliminated by filters and sophisticated after treatment systems effectively reducing nitrogen oxide levels by 92% compared to earlier generations. |
| "Given that diesel cars emit 15-20% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than a petrol equivalent, they also make a significant contribution to climate change targets, an environmental challenge which cannot be ignored in this debate." | "Given that diesel cars emit 15-20% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than a petrol equivalent, they also make a significant contribution to climate change targets, an environmental challenge which cannot be ignored in this debate." |
| Have you been affected by issues covered in this story? Are you a diesel car owner? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Have you been affected by issues covered in this story? Are you a diesel car owner? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |