Budget 2009- ABD calls on Darling to ignore scrappage scheme

The Association of British Drivers (ABD) has called on the government to ignore calls for a vehicle scrappage scheme.

The scrappage scheme – as devised by the motor trade – could offer owners who scrap older cars vouchers which entitle them to a discount, of as much as £2,000, off a new car.

The ABD believes overall the scheme will be "bad for jobs and the economy, will be bad for road safety and contrary to popular belief, of no benefit to the environment".

"The scrappage scheme may stimulate the sale of new cars," explained ABD chairman Brian Gregory. "But how will that benefit the British economy if those cars are built in France or Malaysia?

"It would be much better for the economy as a whole to keep older cars on the road - people have their cars repaired at a local garage, they don't send them abroad for service. With the repair industry employing around 600,000 people it makes sense to protect their jobs rather than import more cars and export more jobs."