Air quality has improved significantly since 2010, but sixty years on from the Clean Air Act, it is unacceptable that air pollution is still making people ill, shortening lives and damaging our economy and environment.
I understand that there are particular concerns about the impact of air pollution on young children. To tackle this, the Government's new Clean Air Strategy is a welcome measure which aims to cut air pollution and save lives, backed up by new primary legislation. The Strategy details how the UK will go further and faster than the EU in reducing exposure to particulate matter pollution.
The Strategy has been consulted upon and forms a key part of the 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment. It sets out goals to halve the number of people living in locations with concentrations of particulate matter above WHO guidelines, it legislates to give councils more powers to improve air quality and it ensures only the cleanest domestic fuels and stoves can be sold.
Other measures include supporting farmers to invest in reducing emissions of ammonia, working with international partners on new standards for tyres and brakes to reduce emissions of harmful microplastics, investing in research and innovation and a personal air quality messaging system to keep the public informed.
These actions supplement the £3.5 billion plan to reduce air pollution from road transport and diesel vehicles as set out last year. The investment includes £1 billion to support the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles, nearly £0.5 billion to help local authorities implement local air quality plans and about £90 million through the Green Bus fund.
I believe that together, these plans will help us tackle the blight of air pollution in North Warwickshire and in the country as a whole.