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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2015/oct/12/vw-uk-boss-questioned-by-mps-on-emissions-scandal--live
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Emissions scandal: VW 'deserves to suffer damage', says UK minister – as it happened | Emissions scandal: VW 'deserves to suffer damage', says UK minister – as it happened |
| (7 months later) | |
| 6.42pm BST | 6.42pm BST |
| 18:42 | 18:42 |
| To sum up, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin came out strongly, saying Volkswagen behaved appallingly and deserved to suffer substantial damage. | To sum up, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin came out strongly, saying Volkswagen behaved appallingly and deserved to suffer substantial damage. |
| He said that so far he was satisfied no other carmaker had used emissions cheating software - although not all of them had yet responded to the government. | He said that so far he was satisfied no other carmaker had used emissions cheating software - although not all of them had yet responded to the government. |
| As for VW’s UK boss Paul Higgs, he said 400,000 UK cars would need fuel injectors fixing, with the recalls starting in January. He hoped they would be completed by the end of 2016 but could not guarantee it. | As for VW’s UK boss Paul Higgs, he said 400,000 UK cars would need fuel injectors fixing, with the recalls starting in January. He hoped they would be completed by the end of 2016 but could not guarantee it. |
| He said the first car with the default device was sold in the UK in 2008. | He said the first car with the default device was sold in the UK in 2008. |
| And he added that it was implausible senior management would have known about the devices. | And he added that it was implausible senior management would have known about the devices. |
| But he did not impress some of the committee, with Labour MP Robert Flello saying “[Willis] didn’t seem to know much [about the technical issues] which annoyed me.” | But he did not impress some of the committee, with Labour MP Robert Flello saying “[Willis] didn’t seem to know much [about the technical issues] which annoyed me.” |
| On that note, it’s time to close up and say thank you for all your comments. Good evening. | On that note, it’s time to close up and say thank you for all your comments. Good evening. |
| 6.24pm BST | 6.24pm BST |
| 18:24 | 18:24 |
| Here’s some further reading on the diesel scandal and how emissions ran out of control: | Here’s some further reading on the diesel scandal and how emissions ran out of control: |
| 6.14pm BST | 6.14pm BST |
| 18:14 | 18:14 |
| Ellman: When will there be further progress? | Ellman: When will there be further progress? |
| McLoughlin: Looking for further progress by end of November | McLoughlin: Looking for further progress by end of November |
| And with that the session ends. | And with that the session ends. |
| 6.12pm BST | 6.12pm BST |
| 18:12 | 18:12 |
| On recalls and if some people decide not to part: | On recalls and if some people decide not to part: |
| McLoughlin: I think most people will want to have their cars recalled. | McLoughlin: I think most people will want to have their cars recalled. |
| 6.09pm BST | 6.09pm BST |
| 18:09 | 18:09 |
| Ellman: Process seems leisurely. When will we see real changes. | Ellman: Process seems leisurely. When will we see real changes. |
| McLoughlin: If these devices were illegal in 1998 and company continued to use or started using them again, these are serious issues. We are only in the early stages. | McLoughlin: If these devices were illegal in 1998 and company continued to use or started using them again, these are serious issues. We are only in the early stages. |
| 6.06pm BST | 6.06pm BST |
| 18:06 | 18:06 |
| Ellman: In 2013 Advertising Standard Authority ruled against Audi on false claims on fuel usage. Did that not send alarm bells about the independence of the testing process? | Ellman: In 2013 Advertising Standard Authority ruled against Audi on false claims on fuel usage. Did that not send alarm bells about the independence of the testing process? |
| Higgs: that could have been approved by another member state. We may not have been the authority for that particular issue. | Higgs: that could have been approved by another member state. We may not have been the authority for that particular issue. |
| 6.04pm BST | 6.04pm BST |
| 18:04 | 18:04 |
| Louise Ellman: Is VCA too close to manufacturers? | Louise Ellman: Is VCA too close to manufacturers? |
| VCA’s Paul Higgs: during 40 years have been regulator and also requirement to support UK motor industry which is sizeable. Manufacturers have to understand standards. | VCA’s Paul Higgs: during 40 years have been regulator and also requirement to support UK motor industry which is sizeable. Manufacturers have to understand standards. |
| We are paid by fees, set by legislation, we are required to cover costs of statutory function. So normal in this environment to charge industry for those fees. | We are paid by fees, set by legislation, we are required to cover costs of statutory function. So normal in this environment to charge industry for those fees. |
| Is there a conflict? | Is there a conflict? |
| Important that manufacturers understand what is required. We only give them an idea of what is required to meet specification or standard. | Important that manufacturers understand what is required. We only give them an idea of what is required to meet specification or standard. |
| 6.01pm BST | 6.01pm BST |
| 18:01 | 18:01 |
| The data car manufacturers publish, in advertisements etc, for average consumer they are meaningless. | The data car manufacturers publish, in advertisements etc, for average consumer they are meaningless. |
| McLoughlin: you could say they’re still a guide, but this data is for constant speed of 55. Not sure people drive constantly at 55 miles. | McLoughlin: you could say they’re still a guide, but this data is for constant speed of 55. Not sure people drive constantly at 55 miles. |
| When company like VW does something like this, casts a spotlight on whole industry and they have to put it right. | When company like VW does something like this, casts a spotlight on whole industry and they have to put it right. |
| Real world testing will I hope go some way to reassuring public they can trust in manufacturers. | Real world testing will I hope go some way to reassuring public they can trust in manufacturers. |
| 5.57pm BST | 5.57pm BST |
| 17:57 | 17:57 |
| Louise Ellman: there are questions over testing and how accurate they are. What are you doing about problems of testing, have been major criticisms of department, when information was available in 2013, perhaps earlier, about discrepencies, department did not appear to act. | Louise Ellman: there are questions over testing and how accurate they are. What are you doing about problems of testing, have been major criticisms of department, when information was available in 2013, perhaps earlier, about discrepencies, department did not appear to act. |
| McLoughlin: If test done in home country, approved through whole of Europe. Have to get testing system right, right to push for road testing. | McLoughlin: If test done in home country, approved through whole of Europe. Have to get testing system right, right to push for road testing. |
| We’ve sent letters to Commission, discussions taking place. Will be a speedier move as a result of this. | We’ve sent letters to Commission, discussions taking place. Will be a speedier move as a result of this. |
| Ian Yarnold: on lab test whole new test by 2017, then new test on road testing and we are in closing stages of agreement and implementation. | Ian Yarnold: on lab test whole new test by 2017, then new test on road testing and we are in closing stages of agreement and implementation. |
| 5.52pm BST | 5.52pm BST |
| 17:52 | 17:52 |
| Huw Merriman, Conservative: Has UK considered large fines to disincentivise this type of practice? | Huw Merriman, Conservative: Has UK considered large fines to disincentivise this type of practice? |
| In early stages of finding whats gone on what legal powers are available to us. Various areas we can look at. | In early stages of finding whats gone on what legal powers are available to us. Various areas we can look at. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.07pm BST | at 6.07pm BST |
| 5.51pm BST | 5.51pm BST |
| 17:51 | 17:51 |
| Conservative Mark Menzies: owners of affected vehicles will not have higher vehicle excise duty but will VW compensate government for any lost tax revenues. | Conservative Mark Menzies: owners of affected vehicles will not have higher vehicle excise duty but will VW compensate government for any lost tax revenues. |
| McLoughlin: vehicle excise duty based on carbon emissions...Still considering exactily what to do. | McLoughlin: vehicle excise duty based on carbon emissions...Still considering exactily what to do. |
| 5.48pm BST | 5.48pm BST |
| 17:48 | 17:48 |
| On pollution, these 1.1m VW cars, if they had run as should, what is the difference in pollution? Says up to 40 times in US? | On pollution, these 1.1m VW cars, if they had run as should, what is the difference in pollution? Says up to 40 times in US? |
| Department of Transport’s Michael Hurwitz said: We have not yet had information from VW to compare how vehicles do in lab tests compared to real world. | Department of Transport’s Michael Hurwitz said: We have not yet had information from VW to compare how vehicles do in lab tests compared to real world. |
| Real issue is that that the lab test is not fit for purpose. Once have run more tests can give more info. | Real issue is that that the lab test is not fit for purpose. Once have run more tests can give more info. |
| But on this specific issue, pollution probably up by less than 1%? | But on this specific issue, pollution probably up by less than 1%? |
| Yes. | Yes. |