Transport Emissions: Urban Areas

Clive Lewis Excerpts
Tuesday 22nd May 2018

(5 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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Absolutely; I am grateful to my hon. Friend for making that point. We want to work in partnership, and local authorities such as Cornwall Council can make sure that the communities in her constituency—in particular the children who attend primary schools in those communities—can be protected from the impact of air pollution. I am grateful to her for championing much of the work in this consultation throughout her time in this House.

Clive Lewis Portrait Clive Lewis (Norwich South) (Lab)
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The Secretary of State has repeatedly told the House that the UK leads the way in phasing out combustion engines by 2040, but he must keep up to date with current events in the German Bundesrat, which has already passed legislation for them to be phased out in Germany by 2030. We also believe that in China combustion engines will be phased out by 2030. That makes our policy a laughing stock in the world.

Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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There are some countries, including some outside the European Union such as Norway, that have a more ambitious target than our own. However, I do not think that the legislation has yet been given effect in Germany.