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Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Asked by Helen HayesLabourDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 9 December 2025UIN 95689

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the contribution of illegally high vehicle emissions arising from the use of defeat devices to overall UK nitrogen oxide and greenhouse gas emissions levels.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

Defeat devices are illegal, misleading for drivers and can have negative health impacts on the public.

The Department for Transport has not conducted a specific assessment of the contribution of illegally high vehicle emissions arising from the use of defeat devices to overall UK Nitrogen Oxide and greenhouse gas emissions levels.

The Department for Transport, through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, is leading investigations into suspected non-compliant diesel vehicles under assimilated Regulation (EU) 2018/858. Where non-compliance is identified, manufacturers are required to take corrective action.

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