National Policy Statement: Airports

Debate between Catherine West and Lord Grayling

Monday 25th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green) (Lab)]

What assessment has the Secretary of State’s Department made of the impact of this proposal on the respiratory health of London children?

[Chris Grayling]

We have been very clear about two things. First, this runway cannot open if it does not meet air quality standards. Secondly, the air quality issue in west London is much bigger than the airport itself. This is the kind of challenge that we see in any busy metropolitan area. That is why we published our air quality strategy last summer, and it is why we need to get on with the job of making our car fleets much greener through lowering emissions. We are pushing ahead with low emission vehicles as fast as we can in this country.