HC Deb 19 July 1995 vol 263 cc1662-3
18. Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new proposals he has to reduce atmospheric pollution. [33391]

Mr. Gummer

The Government have brought forward provisions in the Environment Bill to implement a new framework for air quality management, and later this year we will publish our proposals for a national strategy for improving air quality.

Mr. Flynn

Is the Secretary of State not ashamed of that answer—the answer that was also given to my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger)? Some 17 months ago, a Select Committee drew the House's attention to the dangers of PM10s. It was suggested then that they would cause 10,000 additional deaths each year—three times as many deaths as are caused by road accidents. There is also the problem of photo-chemical smog, which has caused three major incidents in this city over the past four years, and all the other problems of vehicle exhaust pollution. Is it not an utter disgrace that, after 16 years of this Government, hundreds—almost certainly thousands—of people in this city are being killed by the air that they breathe?

Mr. Gummer

The hon. Gentleman really ought to get the facts right—they are very clear. The amount of pollution in the air is falling, and we now have a European framework directive as a result of action led by this country. That directive is crucial. Much of the pollution caused by traffic in this country is blown over the channel, so we must make sure that it is seen as a European problem. We also have the Environment Bill, which gives us the power to act. Moreover, we are giving local authorities much more power to deal with the matter locally. The hon. Gentleman must know the facts before he stands up and pontificates.

Sir Peter Emery

Is my right hon. Friend aware that most people, especially those affected by asthma, are praising the lead that Britain has taken? Having secured the regulations, however, will he try to ensure that the regulations are observed and properly monitored, and that when they are broken, prosecutions are quickly brought? Is not what worries many people the breach of regulations—even those that already exist?

Mr. Gummer

My right hon. Friend is right. That is why we are increasing the number of monitoring stations. We have a number of temporary stations, and we are introducing local authority monitoring stations into the network. It is why we are giving local authorities specific and direct powers to deal with the worst problems, and why we and no other Government introduced monitoring which enables us to announce to the public when the weather makes it likely that asthma sufferers will experience particular difficulties. That is why, next year, we shall have even tougher measures to deal with pollution from road vehicles, and that is why the European Community is dealing with these matters at European level—which is the only sensible way in which to deal with pollution that knows no national boundaries. My right hon. Friend is quite right; what he says contrasts starkly with questions of this type.

Mr. Tipping

Will the Secretary of State look again at atmospheric pollution from the generating industry? In particular, will he consider the Drax power station area, where flue gas desulphurisation equipment has been installed at massive cost but is not running, while dirtier plant is running? Is that not a crazy system, and is there not a need for reform?

Mr. Gummer

When I last visited Norway, the Green movement there welcomed me with a specially written English leaflet saying that Britain had done better than any other country in regard to sulphur, that we were doing better than Norway herself, and that, having not been prepared to sign up to the 30 per cent. club in advance, we had done better than that. The hon. Gentleman is right to draw attention to the generating industry: overall, it has contributed greatly to Britain's new reputation as the clean man of Europe.

Mr. Ian Bruce

My right hon. Friend will know that, in the past, it has been very difficult to detect particulates—the fine particles in the air that emanate from diesels and the like. I am sure that he will welcome the news that AEA Technology at Winfrith, in my constituency, has just invented and developed a process to monitor particulates. Will the Department look carefully at the new equipment, and ensure that it is available both to the Department and to local authorities as soon as possible?

Mr. Gummer

I should be happy to consider that. I should also remark that atomic energy provision has contributed considerably to the reduction of pollution—atomic energy stations that the Labour party would close down.