Request ID: FOI-0105-2324 Date published: 07 June 2023
You asked
I understand that some individuals will be able to apply to scrap their cars if they are not compliant with the ULEZ requirements, and that people may be able to claim up to £2000 to scrap their car.
Could you please let me know whether or not you hold the analysis used to set the figure at £2,000; and if so, I would be grateful if you would disclose the analysis to me via email. This may be held in an spreadsheet like MS Excel or Google Sheets, or SAS, R python, code.
It should also include, where held:
• the data used
• the list of assumptions made
• the outputs
• any quality assurance of the analysis undertaken
This is similar to that set by the UK Government in its Aqua Book: guidance for producing quality analysis for government. I am not sure if your office uses the Aqua book specifically, but I assume that you broadly use the same set of principles therein.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0105-2324
Thank you for your request received on 10 April 2023 asking for information about the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) Scrappage Scheme. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. To support the London-wide ULEZ expansion the Mayor has introduced a £110m scrappage scheme to support Londoners on certain low income and disability benefits, and to London registered businesses with up to 10 employees, sole traders and charities. We are making changes to the scrappage scheme to help even more Londoners benefit from the funds that are available and prepare for the ULEZ expansion. These changes include adding recipients of Child Benefit to those who can apply to scrap a car or motorcycle. Charities operating in London will be able to apply for up to three vans and minibuses to be scrapped or retrofitted. Small businesses registered in London will also be able to apply to the scrappage scheme. More information will be available on the TfL website once the details are finalised: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/scrappage-schemes/car-and-motorcycle?cid=car-motorcycle-scrappage Londoners receiving certain low income and disability benefits can apply for grants of up to £2,000 to scrap their non-compliant cars or motorcycles. As a new feature, successful applicants can choose to receive up to two free annual bus and tram passes plus a smaller cash grant, with the total value of this package being higher than just the grant payment. The success of the previous scrappage schemes has resulted in over 15,000 older, more polluting vehicles being removed from London’s roads. The new scrappage scheme has incorporated what we have learnt from these schemes. When setting the grant payment levels for the first £61m scrappage scheme, a key consideration was that the incentive needed to strike the right balance between maximising the benefits through helping the maximum number of applicants possible, whilst ensuring the payment value was high enough to be attractive so the scheme would be utilised by target recipients. The right balance between these variables needed to be reached within the finite amount of funding. The attractiveness of the grant payment was explored in focus groups and telephone interviews during July and August 2019 with target recipients and with stakeholders as part of the Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) which is available on our website: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/privacy-and-cookies/road-user-charging#on-this-page-11 Following the closure of the previous £61m scrappage scheme that supported the removal of over 15,200 vehicles in preparation for the inner London ULEZ a survey of grant recipients reported in the ULEZ scrappage schemes evaluation report, found that the majority of recipients felt that the grant payment for the car and motorcycle scheme was either a ‘very reasonable’, or a ‘reasonable’ amount. For the new scrappage scheme regular reviews of the second hand market showed that there was a good choice of cars available for under £2,000, which, along with the understanding from previous recipients in the evaluation report, informed the decision on the grant level . However, TfL continues to monitor the market on affordability of ULEZ compliant cars. If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
