VW Chief and Transport Secretary To Give Evidence To Select Committee

On Monday Volkswagen Group UK’s Chief Executive Mike Hawes, and Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin will give evidence on Volkswagen Group emissions violations to the Transport Select Committee.

Following VW’s admission about using defeat devices, Patrick McLoughlin made a statement at a meeting of European transport ministers in Luxembourg  highlighting the importance of protecting UK consumer interests. He said: ”

“The needs of consumers must be at the forefront of action to restore public confidence in emissions testing. I have made it clear to Volkswagen that we expect it to support UK owners of vehicles fitted with defeat device software. The UK government has already announced that owners in Britain will not incur higher vehicle taxes as result of VW’s actions.

“There now needs to be co-ordinated European work to establish trust in the testing process. As I highlighted to the Transport Council, driving emissions tests that reflect real-world performance must be introduced as quickly as possible.

“In the meantime, I can confirm that the UK has now started its own testing programme. This will get to the bottom of what the situation is for VW Group cars in the UK and ensure we understand the wider implications for other car types to give all consumers certainty.

“I have also today repeated my call for a Europe-wide investigation into the use of ‘defeat devices’, in parallel to the work we are doing in the UK.”

Friends of the Earth’s head of campaigns, Andrew Pendleton, said: “The [Transport Select] committee must get to the bottom of this public health scandal by thoroughly grilling VW’s UK chief and Patrick McLoughlin on what they knew about the company’s efforts to cheat emissions tests.

“And, there is a bigger question over how much they knew about a flawed testing regime that has allowed millions of highly polluting vehicles onto our roads.

“Motorists who have bought VW vehicles will want answers, and so will the many families of people who have suffered premature deaths due to poor air quality.