'Pay to scrap gas-guzzlers'

Motorists who trade in their old gas-guzzlers for cars that do less damage to the environment should be given a cash prize by the Treasury, a committee of MPs is recommending.

The carrot for scrapping "Chelsea tractors" – so-called after the west London borough where mothers drive short distances in enormous 4x4s – contrasts with the stick favoured by the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, who angered the motoring lobby by punishing the owners of high polluting cars.

Related articles

• Leading article: Driven to distraction

The Commons Environmental Audit Committee says that the Government is right to punish people who own high-polluting cars – but it wants a system of rewards for motorists who get rid of their gas-guzzlers, on condition that the cars are scrapped and not sent abroad to carry on polluting.

The Treasury minister, Angela Eagle, said that the Government is willing to look at the idea, but warned: "You have to get the timing right or it can have an adverse effect."

A similar French scheme that had a time limit of one year led to a boom in the sale of new cars, which was immediately followed by a fall of 20 per cent.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers claims Mr Darling's new tariffs will fall hardest on the disabled, rural users and large families who need bigger cars. Motor groups also claim that including cars bought years ago is unfair retrospective taxation.