Scottish Transport minister Humza Yousaf has admitted that the Scot-Govt does not have the power/s to enforce its ‘hope’ to ban the sale of traditional internal-combustion vehicles (ICEVs).
The ‘ban’ on the sale of petrol and diesel-powered vehicles from 2032 was unexpectedly announced last year by Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister in a move seen as ‘green’ one-upmanship over then (then) British prime minister David Cameron’s plan to do likewise by 2040.
But Yousaf stunned the audience at a power conference last week in Glasgow when he confessed this is not actually possible.
He said: “We (aka Scot-Govt) don’t have the legislative powers to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars,” and theb added:
“But it is always better to have ambitious targets – even if they are not achievable.”
His admission follows strong suggestions from the Scottish Motor Trade Association that licensing of cars through the UK DVLA is not a power devolved to Holyrood MPs from Westminster.
Meanwhile, Energy MPs on the Westminster parliament’s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee are tomorrow holding a meeting to investigate issues relating to charging infrastructure as part of its inquiry into the development of the market for battery-powered electric vehicles (BPVs)
MPs will also consider the experience of the development of infrastructure in Scotland with the Energy Saving Trust.
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