House of Commons · Westminster Hall
02 November 2021 · 10 other contributors · 8,295 words
Opened by Barry Sheerman Lab Huddersfield
Responding minister: Jo Churchill
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Barry Sheerman raised concerns about cop26 and air pollution in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Introduce charges on producers of greenhouse gas emissions. End annual fossil fuel subsidies. Introduce taxes to raise funds for tackling global warming and improving community-level initiatives. Implement sustainable development goals at a local level and engage communities in the process.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Air pollution kills 64,000 people in the UK annually. The government provides annual fossil fuel subsidies of £10.5 billion. Drax power station received a subsidy of £900 million last year for energy production from wood pellets. Seven million people globally and 36,000 in the UK die prematurely due to air pollution-related conditions, costing an estimated £12 billion.
Asked the hon. Member for Huddersfield if he agrees that the Chancellor might want to reconsider the cut in air passenger duty for short haul flights due to its impact on air quality.
Dave Doogan expressed concern about the impact of air pollution on public health, citing studies in Scotland showing significant increases in hospital admissions due to illegal levels of pollutants. He highlighted that air pollution costs £20 billion annually in health and social care and disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities. Additionally, he raised issues with older vehicles contributing more pollutants than newer ones and called for measures like the ability to test and seize vehicles emitting excessive pollutants. Asked if the Minister will give way, indicating a procedural intervention in the debate.
Reminded Members to wear face coverings in line with Government guidance and the House of Commons Commission's rules. Advised Members to give each other space when seated and moving around.
Clean air is essential for life, health, the environment and the economy. The UK has a clean air strategy aiming to halve the number of people living in locations with particulate matter pollution above WHO guidelines by 2040. However, concerns were raised about planned incinerators near Loughborough University and residential areas which could worsen PM2.5 levels.
Called attention to the issue of air pollution around Heathrow airport, stating that the area is a major hotspot for nitrogen dioxide pollution and breaches legal limits. He argued against further expansion at Heathrow on environmental grounds.
Calls for legally binding targets based on WHO standards, Government finance to support electric car purchases and public transport investment, and urges the Minister to review a new incinerator project due to its significant carbon emissions.
Highlights the importance of clean air and discusses practical initiatives such as travel planning, clear air campaigns, charity support for lung conditions, and improved public transport in her constituency.
He expressed concern about the proposed £250 million road through Rimrose valley in his constituency, which he argued is an outdated solution that ignores lessons from COP and covid. He highlighted the significant pollution caused by thousands of lorries passing daily on the A5036 and criticised National Highways' approach as insufficient to address air quality issues.
Air pollution is a serious issue impacting millions of people in the UK, particularly those with lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ruth Jones highlighted the need for a clean air Act that would establish a legal right to breathe clean air based on World Health Organisation guidelines.
Asks the Public Health Minister to agree that investing in air monitoring is important following COP26.
Government Response
Jo ChurchillThe UK has made progress in reducing air pollution with emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) down by 11% and nitrogen oxide levels at their lowest since records began. However, more needs to be done. The clean air strategy will reduce the cost of air pollution to society by £1.7 billion per year from 2020, rising to £5.3 billion in 2030. We are developing two targets under the Environment Bill: a concentration target and a population exposure reduction target for PM2.5 particulate matter. The Government allocated £880 million to tackle nitrogen dioxide exceedances and introduced clean air zones in Bath and Birmingham this year.