DON'T SCRAP THE BANGERS & CASH; Call to keep new car offer after sales rise 2.4%.Byline: JAMES LYONS James Lyons can refer to:
LORD Mandelson is being urged to extend the car scrappage scheme after it was hailed a huge success. The offer of pounds 2,000 off a new motor for trading in an older model saw new car sales rise last month for the first time in a year. The "bangers for cash" incentive is limited to 300,000 cars, with more than 150,000 already scrapped. Labour MPs are now calling on the Business Secretary to keep and expand the scheme. Backbencher Lindsay Hoyle Lindsay Harvey Hoyle MP (born 10 June 1957) is an MP in the United Kingdom. He is Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Chorley, and was first elected in 1997. He is the son of Doug Hoyle (Lord Hoyle of Warrington), a former MP for Warrington North. , who led the campaign for it, said: "Scrappage has been very successful and made a big difference to firms. I believe it is right to extend it." The scheme, launched in May, costs pounds 600million. Taxpayers are paying half the bill, with the car industry picking up the rest. At the moment, motorists can only trade in their car for a small, fuel-efficient model. But Mr Hoyle wants it to include new family cars. He said: "I would like to expand it to cover more of the larger cars we are so good at building in the UK." Former minister Tom Watson added: "Not only has this scheme helped to sustain the car industry, it is good for the environment. "I hope everyone can support an extension of the scheme." The offer is credited with attracting buyers back into showrooms, resulting in last month's rise in car sales. There were 157,149 new cars registered in July, up 2.4% on the previous year. Trade group The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is the trade association for the United Kingdom motor industry. See also
"It has given a boost to consumer confidence and has got people back into the showroom." But it called for more help for would-be customers and said the Government needed to do more to get banks to provide loans. A spokesman said: "While the automotive industry The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles. In 2006, more than 69 million motor vehicles, including cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide. continues on the long road to recovery, SMMT SMMT Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders SMMT Short Message Mobile Terminated SMMT System Mechanic Mobile Toolkit urges Government to take action. Ministers need to sustain economic recovery through easing finance and credit." Voice of the Mirror: Page 8 pounds 2k Towards a small, fuel-efficient car for those scrapping an older, dirtier model 157,149 New cars registered in July, a rise of 2.4% on the same month last year |
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