EXTENSION OF THE CAR SCRAPPAGE SCHEME

That this House welcomes the Government's announcement to extend the car scrappage scheme to cover an extra 100,000 vehicles; acknowledges recent figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders confirming that the scrappage scheme has raised demand and therefore production of cars in the UK; therefore notes that the scheme has contributed to saving potentially tens of thousands of skilled jobs by preventing the closure of any British car plant during the recession to date; and calls on the Government to strengthen the British car industry further by introducing a short-term working subsidy as proven successful through such schemes in operation across Europe.