Employee Car Ownership Schemes

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean Excerpts

Monday 8th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Stockwood (Lab)]

The Government are committed to fairness in our tax system, so we are open to all those conversations. At the moment, we have set out the policy we intend to commit to.

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)]

My Lords, I appreciate that the Minister is new to his post, but would he have a word with his colleagues? The car industry in our country is being destroyed by this determination to prevent it manufacturing vehicles with internal combustion engines beyond a particular date. I know that the Government are keen to be in step with Europe, so will they follow Europe and extend that period? What we are doing is creating a market for cheap Chinese electric vehicles, at the expense of some of the best engines in the world, and there are many jobs associated with that.

[Lord Stockwood (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for recognising my novice status—I appreciate it. I am in constant conversation with my colleagues. The Government are firmly committed to the automotive sector and intend to make sure that we fulfil our commitments to the sector and to the Climate Change Committee.