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Local Transport Bill [HL]

I am most grateful for the noble Earl’s detailed explanation of the purpose of the amendment. I can only say that I am afraid that I cannot be as helpful as I was in the Road Safety Bill. He may see a ““Resist”” coming down the track on this one. The London low emissions zone is the responsibility of the Mayor, as noble Lords will know, and has been taken forward on his behalf by Transport for London. The aim of the scheme is to improve air quality for those living in, working in or visiting London, as well as to help London and the UK move closer to achieving national and EU air quality targets by deterring the most individually polluting vehicles from driving in the area. The Government support that aim. While costs to motorists are of course a concern—I take seriously the emphasis of the noble Earl on the problem of the costs to vehicle owners—Transport for London considers that as private HGVs emit the same level of pollutants per kilometre driven as commercial HGVs, they should not be exempt from the zone. The same applies to the other vehicles mentioned in the amendment. Recovery vehicles and special vehicles have similar emissions characteristics to the HGVs and LGVs from which they are derived, and as such Transport for London considers that they should be subject to the same emissions requirements under the London low emission zone. Exemptions could erode the benefits that the London low emission zone seeks to achieve. Transport for London has set up a dedicated inquiry service to help operators to understand what the low emission zone means for them and what they may have to do to comply with the scheme. London charging authorities already have the powers to exempt from charging schemes those vehicles they deem appropriate, so that exemption power is there. As with all charging schemes, TfL will keep the scheme under review and will make any appropriate amendments to the scheme design if and when it deems them necessary. Given that explanation, I ask the noble Earl to withdraw his amendment.