Ministers buy 19 diesel motors… while telling YOU to scrap your own
MINISTERS have been accused of ‘incredible hypocrisy’ after buying a fleet of new diesel cars – despite asking the public to scrap theirs.
In 2017 the Scottish Government announced that it wanted to phase out all diesel vehicles to ‘improve our environment and the quality of the air we breathe’.
Yet civil servants have bought 19 since that pledge, including two Mercedes vans, a Sprinter model and a Vito Minibus Combo.
However, the Government said it could not find electric or hybrid vehicles ‘suitable’ for transporting bulky items around Scotland – exactly the reason that many drivers, especially in the Highlands, have been reluctant to abandon their diesels.
MSP Liam Kerr, net zero spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said the purchases were a waste of money.
He added: ‘The SNP-Green coalition have forced people and businesses to reconsider their choices and spend more on alternatives. Yet since that announcement, a number of diesel vehicles have been bought by the Scottish Government.
‘That is not just incredible hypocrisy, it is also a bad deal for taxpayers who are bankrolling purchases which Ministers have said don’t have a future.’
Last month, it was reported that the SNP-Green Government had a total of 46 diesel cars in its almost 200-strong fleet.
Mr Kerr asked how many of the 46 diesel vehicles and 16 petrol cars in the Government fleet were purchased in each year from 2018 to date. Former transport minister Jenny Gilruth said there were 19 in total, including two which were bought last year.
She added: ‘The two most recent purchases, a Mercedes Sprinter and Vito Minibus Combo, are used for specific business-related purposes.
‘The Mercedes is used by Marine Scotland to transport shipping supplies and equipment throughout Scotland, whilst the Vito Minibus is used by our video production team to transport team members and bulky audio visual equipment.
‘At time of purchase, there were no suitable fully electric or plug-in hybrid alternatives available.’
Among the other diesels are 14 Mitsubishi L200s, nine Toyota Hiluxs, a Nissan X-trail Acenta SUV and a Ford Tourneo car.
Last week, it was disclosed that waste management firm Biffa has provided 198 diesel and petrol-fuelled vehicles to collect empty drinks containers as part of the SNP’s Deposit Return Scheme.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘As part of our commitment to decarbonise our fleet we have increased investment in ultralow emitting electric vehicles, which now make up 70 per cent of the overall current fleet and 100 per cent of the current Government car service fleet.
‘Ministers take their responsibility to travel sustainably seriously.’