Oral Answers to Questions

Joan Ryan Excerpts
Thursday 25th January 2018

(6 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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I would be delighted.

Joan Ryan Portrait Joan Ryan (Enfield North) (Lab)
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T7. In reference to air pollution, not a single area of London meets the World Health Organisation standards for the damaging type of particle known as PM2.5, and 95% of the capital exceeds the guidelines by at least 50%. The clean air action to which the Minister referred needs resourcing. When will the Government, instead of passing the buck to local and regional authorities, put some money on these fine words?

Thérèse Coffey Portrait Dr Thérèse Coffey
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I think the huge amount of investment in improving transport infrastructure and helping local councils has certainly done that. When it comes to PM2.5, this issue affects everybody, and that is why it is a key part of what we will be addressing in our clean air strategy. I encourage people to do the right things under the strategy—do not burn wet wood, and think about switching to smokeless coal. These are the kinds of things on which we can take immediate action now, as well as acting on the long-term issue of improving infrastructure.