Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that tougher emissions checks under the new MOT system may leave diesel car drivers facing expensive repair bills or the need to scrap their cars; and whether they will consider introducing a compensation scheme for drivers of cars that fail their MOT as a result of recent changes to emissions standards.

Amendments to MOT testing for cars, which took effect on 20 May, include a test of emissions control systems on diesel vehicles. Where these are visibly defective, modified, or missing, or where smoke of any colour is emitted, a major fault will be recorded and the vehicle will fail its MOT. Some cars will not meet these standards, for example where diesel particulate filters have been removed, and these vehicles will require repairs in order to pass the MOT test if they are to remain in use. However, the Government is clear that vehicles using public roads must comply with the air pollutant emissions standards they were designed to meet. The Government currently has no plans to introduce a scrappage scheme for vehicles failing their MOT as a result of these changes.