London, England - Volkswagen has not fixed any of the 1.2 million cars in Britain affected by the diesel emissions scandal, despite its claims that it has begun software modifications to some models.
VW, which triggered the biggest scandal in its history with last year's admission that it rigged US diesel emissions tests, said on Friday its recall of about 2000 Amarok pick-up trucks in Britain for a software update had begun in January and that measures are now being applied to some SEAT and Audi models.
But department for transport junior minister Robert Goodwill told the British parliament's transport committee on Monday Volkkswagen had yet to take necessary remedial action on its cars in the UK.
“They haven't fixed any cars yet, I'm disappointed to announce, and they will need to have their fix approved by us before they do it,” he said in a session held as part of the committee's inquiry into how vehicles are approved in Britain, prompted by the VW scandal.
The minister also said that car owners had been contacted by the company and that the software fix would be relatively straightforward.
There was no one available to comment at Volkswagen's UK office when contacted outside business hours on Monday.
The company announced last week had agreed a deal with US authorities involving it buying back or potentially fixing about half a million polluting diesel cars and setting up environmental and consumer compensation funds.
Goodwill said the Serious Fraud Office was looking at the issue of compensation in Britain. Volkswagen has previously said compensation would not be available to British consumers.
Reuters