Recent consultation by Defra to tackle air pollution, principally from traffic in UK, suggests that it will be spending £500m over the next 5 years to incentivise uptake of ultra low emission vehicles, like hybrids and 100% electric cars.

It explains that it is the Govts aim for the majority of car and vans in the UK fleet to be ultra low emission (ULEV) type by 2050.

Local authorities will also be able to declare Clean Air Zones under this framework, whereby vehicles not meeting these emission limits, will have in future to pay to enter.

https://consult.defra.gov.uk/airquality/draft-aq-plans/supporting_documents/Draft%20plans%20to%20improve%20air%20quality%20in%20the%20UK%20%20Overview%20document%20September%202015%20final%20version%20folder.pdf

Why dont they just give everyone a horse free so we can step back 120 years or so

Or a free kangaroo, and put some 'bounce' into the economy ?

I thought these types of small-engine vehicle had been subsidised for ages anyway, lower road-tax and all that ?

And GBP100million a year is peanuts, compared with what they collect, in road-tax & tax on petrol.

Why dont they just give everyone a horse free so we can step back 120 years or so

The problem is, environmental pressure group took this Govt to Supreme Court and won in April, of the failing traffic pollution and all areas with breaches in NO2. It is compounded now, by the Eu taking infraction proceedings against British Govt.

The only solution as I see it, to the areas of traffic pollution is massive investment in public transport, or migration over to these hybrid etc. type vehicles. I think the former is not an option because of taxation levels and continued austerity measures, so the Govt seemingly has only one choice, to pass the cost onto private owners, businesses and taxis in UK etc.

But don't be surprised when catching a taxi in London of the likely huge rise in fares from 2020.

Why dont they just give everyone a horse free so we can step back 120 years or so

Or a free kangaroo, and put some 'bounce' into the economy ?

But definitely not a free Volkswagen, though!

Most of the pollution problems in uk are now being caused by emissions of nitrogen dioxide from diesels.