Government '˜has lacked will to hold VW to account'

The Department for Transport (DfT) has been far too slow to investigate whether Volkswagen should be prosecuted in the UK over the diesel emissions scandal, MPs claim.

By The Newsroom

Published 15th Jul 2016, 06:00 BST

Updated 25th Aug 2016, 19:07 BST

A report published by the Transport Select Committee expressed concern about the “ambivalence” towards assessing the legality of the German car manufacturer’s use of software to cheat environmental tests.

The committee warned that without proper sanctions there is little to stop a similar scandal from happening again.

The report stated: “The Department has been far too slow to assess the applicability of its powers to prosecute VW.”

Labour MP Louise Ellman, chairwoman of the committee, said: “Volkswagen Group has acted cynically to cheat emissions tests which exist solely to protect human health.

“Volkswagen’s evidence to us was just not credible but the Government has lacked the will to hold VW accountable for its actions.

“There is a real danger that VW will be able to get away with cheating emissions tests in Europe if regulators do not act.”