HC Deb 25 October 1994 vol 248 cc740-1
2. Mr. Jamieson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the effect of motor vehicle emissions on respiratory diseases.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Mr. Tom Sackville)

While there is, as yet, no conclusive evidence that motor vehicle emissions cause respiratory diseases, including asthma, high levels of motor vehicle emissions may exacerbate existing respiratory conditions and may trigger attacks in some asthmatic people.

Mr. Jamieson

Is the Minister aware of a report published earlier this year by Noel Olsen, the director of health in the Plymouth and Torbay health authority, who concluded that there is a strong link between asthma and motor vehicle fumes? He said that, shortly, 10 per cent. of children in Plymouth will need inhaled steroids. Is the Minister aware that that view has been strongly reinforced today in a report from the Select Committee on Transport? When will his Department do something about it?

Mr. Sackville

A great deal is being done by the Department of Transport about vehicle emissions. I remind the hon. Gentleman that asthmatics also suffer from pollen, fungal spores, house mites, smoke and a series of other factors.

Mr. Wilkinson

Are not high levels of motor vehicle pollution a grave exacerbating factor in many respiratory conditions, particularly in London? Has not the incidence of asthma and other serious respiratory diseases increased in direct proportion to the increase in motor vehicle traffic? Should not the Department of Health, therefore, concert effectively with the Department of Transport, to get more people onto public transport, especially the tube and railways, rather than using their cars?

Mr. Sackville

There is undoubtedly a connection, which is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has brought in a series of new measures to tighten up diesel emissions and emissions from catalyst and non-catalyst cars, and to put inspectors by the side of roads in inner cities to find those who are polluting the atmosphere. My right hon. Friend has promised to "get tough", particularly on those who drive smoky diesel vehicles. Having worked for him for the past two years, I am now glad that I do not pollute the atmosphere for a living.

Rev. Martin Smyth

I appreciate that the Minister's second response was a little more positive than his first. However, may I press him to speak to the Minister responsible for transport because, despite clean air zones in our cities, the pollution has intensified, as we are now discovering again this year through fogs?

Mr. Sackville

I confirm that we are working closely with the Departments of the Environment and of Transport. We are also organising a major conference on the causes of asthma. We have invited the National Asthma Campaign to organise it jointly with us.