Oral Answers to Questions

Stewart Malcolm McDonald Excerpts

Thursday 16th July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Goodwill]

Internal combustion engines produce pollutants which contribute to air quality problems. That is why we need to ensure that more people opt for green alternatives such as electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and other technologies that are becoming available.

[Stewart McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP)]

A report published in today’s Financial Times reveals that, in 2010, 9,500 people died prematurely in London alone as a result of pollutants that are commonly found in fumes from diesel trucks, buses and cars. As well as the human cost, such pollutants carry a financial cost of up to £3.7 billion, just in the capital. Will the Government look at that report, and consider commissioning a similar report applying to the whole United Kingdom?

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[Andrew Jones]

I will certainly commit to continuing that good work and will be delighted to meet my hon. Friend in his constituency.

[Stewart McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

[The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick McLoughlin)]

Today, Sir Peter Hendy takes over as the new chairman of Network Rail—he is someone with huge experience who helped keep London moving during the Olympics—to develop the proposals by the autumn on how to improve our vital rail upgrades. That programme will be carried out and will report to me by the autumn. I can also confirm today that Lord Adonis has agreed to become a new non-executive director at HS2 Ltd, bringing his wealth of experience and vision to the project and clearly demonstrating its truly cross-party support.

[Stewart McDonald]

Can the Secretary of State outline what steps are being taken to improve coastal protection along the west coast of Scotland?

[Mr McLoughlin]

I might need to write to the hon. Gentleman about that question and look at it in a bit more detail, because of all the things I had prepared for in these Transport questions, that was not one of them.