Consumer groups and MPs have criticised the government’s response to the VW scandal, as a minister refused to state if the vehicle manufacturer had done anything illegal and whether British drivers should be compensated.
Members of the transport select committee said the government had been “phenomenally complacent” and that VW lawyers would be “popping champagne corks” after Robert Goodwill, the minister of state at the Department for Transport, said he had not discussed a possible prosecution.
Appearing before the committee on Monday afternoon to discuss the vehicle programme testing in the light of the emissions scandal, Goodwill said that he was shocked that real world tests conducted by the DfT found that emissions of NOx were 12 times higher in a range of vehicles.
Yet although Goodwill said that the testing confirmed VW had used a defeat device, the minister would not comment on whether it was illegal, claiming it was a matter for the courts.
However, Goodwill said that he had not pushed for any move by the Serious Fraud Office, despite similar action abroad, including the success of the US government in reaching a settlement last week. Asked about compensation, he said: “I’m not a lawyer. You’ve have to demonstrate material loss.”
The minister added that he was more concerned with people breathing air that had become more polluted by higher NOx emissions.
Reacting to suggestions that Britain’s reaction was “phenomenally complacent”, Goodwill said: “I’d not accept that. We are the first member state to publish details of our own testing programme – we’ve established that defeat devices are not widespread.”
The Conservative MP Mark Menzies said that VW had “deceived this committee and the people of this country”, adding: “Do you not think that the government has got a duty to bring a prosecution? Can I make sure you hold VW to account?”
While at a previous hearing Patrick McLoughlin said VW “behaved appallingly” and was using illegal devices, Goodwill refused invitations to repeat his condemnation.
The Labour MP Graham Stringer added: “It seems you are more concerned with protecting the reputation of VW as opposed to punishing them for poisoning the people of this country. VW lawyers will be popping very expensive bottles of champagne tonight after this performance, minister.”
Goodwill said the DfT would be conducting further tests, at a cost of £2m to the taxpayer.
Testifying earlier to the committee, the head of consumer group Which? said the government had been “woefully slow”. Richard Lloyd told MPs: “In the US the authorities have been much more proactive, much quicker – they put enormous pressure on VW and as a result US consumers are at the front of the queue for compensation.
“Given the loss of trust in VW, given that the government has carried out tests and presumably has data, the government needs to equip consumers. The DfT has been woefully slow and hasn’t given consumers enough independent verified information for them to make a judgement as to whether they should make a legal claim, join in a representative action, or merely wait for how many months for VW to get in touch with them to change the software.”
