Letter to my MP

[Rave]

If you're a car enthusiast you should write a similar letter IMO. Paying money to scrap perfectly serviceable old cars would be a bloody disgrace- and, as I point out in my letter, so would using taxpayers money to compete with the poorest in society.

Dear Mr ****,

It has been widely reported in the news media that the government is
considering introducing a 'scrappage' scheme whereby the owners of old
cars will be given a discount of £2000 against the purchase of a new
car. I am writing to express my strong opposition to the introduction
of such a scheme.

There are many reasons to oppose the scheme- the benefits to our car
manufacturing industry are likely to be marginal and provide poor value
for taxpayer's money, and the claims made about the environmental
benefits are extremely dubious. However, my most serious concern, and
the one that I think should be of most concern to a Labour MP, is the
distorting effect the scheme is likely to have on the secondhand car
market. If the government are offering a voucher worth £2000 in
exchange for an old car, then that is likely to make the market value
of all old cars £2000, for obvious reasons. At the moment is is
possible to purchase a roadworthy secondhand car for £500 or less. If
the price of these cars suddenly jumps to £2000 then a lot of young
people and/or those on lower incomes will no longer be able to afford
to buy a car which they may well rely on to get to work, run a small
business, or care for other family members. Incidences of car theft and
driving without insurance are likely to rise.

In effect, a scrappage scheme would mean the government using
taxpayer's money to compete with the poorest people in society in order
to price them out of a valuable commodity.

I hope you will join me in opposing this scheme, and that you will pass
on this communication to the relevant minister.

Yours sincerely,

[Tumble]

Nice concise letter there Rave.. although I'd expect a bit more vitriol in there from your good self

[Brucelles]

I agree with the sentiments, but I even more like that you bothered. So few people bother their MPs that they often are swayed by the few loud-mouths who email them twice a day. In fact mine and my previous MP have both replied with thanks when I felt the need to email them.

More people should do it.

Well done.

[Zak33]

If you're a car enthusiast you should write a similar letter IMO. Paying money to scrap perfectly serviceable old cars would be a bloody disgrace- and, as I point out in my letter, so would using taxpayers money to compete with the poorest in society.

You should also suggest a SOLUTION, not just a PROBLEM.

For example, the scrap value of cars should be £150. Not £2000

That way, the real old knackers WILL come off the street. Leaving the other cars to be valued properly.

The world realy could do with losing the last few mini metro's and fiat uno Mk1's tbh

It should also NOT be only if you buy a new car.

The government should organise a system of scrappage where you write to the government dept, they award you a voucher AND A TIME AND PLACE to be to scrap it.

When you arrive, ON TIME, you get yuor voucher stamped and coded, and when yuo send it off, you get a cheque.

That way the local scrappy's can VOLUNTEER to join in, and not have it forced upon them, AND get a structured way of doing it.

Because the UK's scap yards are HEAVING already! These cars need BREAKING, and SPLITTING by remarketers who are clever enough to do the job properly.

[TheAnimus]

Who would of thought that a Labour style interference with the free market would ***k the poorest the most?

The joke is this is what almost always happens when this kind of lunacy is introduced.

[digit]

A good letter Rave although it seems the opinion of the public is rarely bothered with these days so possibly a futile effort. I highly suspect though we will be seeing some sort of scheme introduced like it or not

[kalniel]

I agree with the sentiments, but I even more like that you bothered. So few people bother their MPs that they often are swayed by the few loud-mouths who email them twice a day. In fact mine and my previous MP have both replied with thanks when I felt the need to email them.

More people should do it.

It's cool that you got a positive response - my communication with a certain Tory cabinet member who is my MP has been less than productive. Despite being the email actually being complimentary and polite, his reply was not especially nice and ran completely counter to the things I was trying to compliment him on.

[Mossy]

Personally I dont think this is a bad scheme at all the positives really out weigh the negatives when you actually think about it.

[schmunk]

My MP is a horrible, fat old Tory. I don't wish to even begin correspondence with him.

[GheeTsar]

In Japan I think they just add a huge tax on cars over 5 years old to encourage people to buy new ones and therefore prop up the Japanese car industry. That's why there are so many grey imports that are 5 years old. I'm not in favour of that, but at least it would be better than £2k scrap fee.

[pauldarkside]

So those who can afford a new car would be better off buying the cheapest piece of junk out there, even if it meant keeping it off the road (SCORN), just to get the discount? Arse about face and, as usual, the fat will get fatter

[eshrules]

as usual, the fat will get fatter

and the poor will get poorer. therein lies the major flaw in this idea.

[Dareos]

So those who can afford a new car would be better off buying the cheapest piece of junk out there, even if it meant keeping it off the road (SCORN), just to get the discount? Arse about face and, as usual, the fat will get fatter

Either that was an incredibly subtle piece of satire that I kinda got, or a typo


SORN

Statutory Off Road Notification


Go for the former, it carries more kudos

[Lee H]

Dareos,

With the letters you get from the DVLA when you applied to have a vehicle under SORN they might as well rename it SCORN

[Rave]

I agree with the sentiments, but I even more like that you bothered. So few people bother their MPs that they often are swayed by the few loud-mouths who email them twice a day. In fact mine and my previous MP have both replied with thanks when I felt the need to email them.

More people should do it.

Well done.

Thanks. I've written to him a couple of times before (once taking the piss admittedly) and not got much of substance in reply. I should do it more often, but I'm not sure where the line is between being a concerned citizen and a green-ink crank....

My MP is an extremely loyal New-Labourite- though now Brown's in charge I suppose he might be a bit less inclined to toe the party line so slavishly.

[joshwa]

There is an online petition, linked to here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/t...ppage%20scheme

With some good explanations of why they are against the scrappage of old cars as well. It's interesting to note that Autocar (and other car magazines) are for the scrappage scheme, as it'll most likely help sell magazines about new cars

There's also a good article here about how old "bangers" can be just as environmentally friendly as new cars, and why old cars should be saved
http://www.great-cars.co.uk/images/s...escrappage.pdf