Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions House of Commons

Houses of Parliament at 11 o'clock

tonight, but first we have questions

to the Minister for the Department

of the Environment, food and rural

affairs.

On the 11th of January the

Government published its plan to

eliminate all avoidable plastic

waste. We've already banned

microbeads in personal care

products, and we are exploring a

reward and return scheme as well as

welcoming the introduction of

plastic free aisles by retailers. We

are also investigating how we can

develop our responsibilities to give

incentives to design more resource

efficient products.

Hayling Island

Beach has been recognised for its

clean coastline for the last 26

years partly because it is plastic

free. Will the Secretary of State

congratulate residents and support

communities to keep coastline is

plastic free?

Yes, and the

leadership shown is equal to my

honourable friend, I have seen his

commitment to our marine environment

and I think it is vital that

colleagues like the honourable

gentlemen are applauded for their

determined environmental work.

People in Chelmsford care about

their recycling, can my right

honourable friend confirm what

actions we can all take to ensure

that when we put items in our

recycling, that end product can be

put to a meaningful use?

My

honourable friend makes an important

point and she has not just in this

parliament but in the European

department may determined efforts to

make recycling easier for all. We

also need to better coordinate

efforts at a local level to make

sure recyclable material is used.

Visit to Bywaters recycling, I heard

some about the challenges they face.

They told me the Chinese ban on

imports of UK waste has caused the

price of recycled paper and

presumably also plastic to fall from

£100 per tonne to £20 per tonne

which will have an impact on the

viability of recycling contracts and

will feed through into council tax

bills so does he agree with me the

way to tackle that is to set

long-term targets for the waste

industry such as the EU is

suggesting?

I do think setting

appropriate targets is part of it.

Waste is such an important moment in

the way in which they measure

recycling that it doesn't always

incentivise quite the right

behaviour and I'm glad our own

government has gone further in

tackling the scourge of single use

plastics.

The UK is in the unique

position to tackle waste in oceans

because of the number of overseas

territories we have. Will Secretary

of State be speaking to those

overseas territories to develop a

comprehensive strategy in this area?

It is a very good question. The

member always asks good questions

whether in this House as well as

elsewhere, as well as writing good

books. My colleague, the Minister

for environment, will be meeting

overseas Territories'

representatives next month, but yes,

working on the network around

overseas territories, there is more

to do.

He will feel his status not

just in this House but in the

country and perhaps even in the

world as a whole will be greatly

enhanced by the general tribute that

has been bestowed upon him by the

Secretary of State.

Primary school

pupils at Oxley Park Academy in my

constituency have launched a

campaign to replace plastic straws

with environmentally friendly

alternatives. Will the Secretary of

State commend their initiative and

if I send him the details will he

take on board their suggestions?

I

absolutely commend their initiative.

It is the case the next generation

often put some of us to shame. I

shall say there is one of the

youngster who has been leading the

charge against plastic straws and

that is the relatively newly

installed editor of the London

Evening Standard who has been

instrumental in ensuring commercial

organisations ban plastic straws,

and can my commend him for the

promising start he has shown into

journalism.

I'm sure the young man

concerned will feel fortified by

that.

Can I commend the Secretary of

State for the publication of his

strategy, a significant step, but

there are opportunities still to do

more. Can he tell the House why it

is but he allowed 25 years in that

strategy for the elimination of

nonessential plastics? If they are

not essential, surely we can do

better than that?

The nature of the

25 year plan was a recommendation

which covers a wide range of issues

but it is the case there are more

demanding and more ambitious targets

to reduce single use plastics which

the Government is bringing forward.

What he is right to encourage us in

Government and all of us to do more.

May I take this opportunity to wish

the Speaker and indeed the Minister

happy Burns Day. One idea currently

being discussed in Scotland is that

of the plastic bottle return scheme.

What discussions has my right

honourable friend had with

counterparts to ensure system can

work preventing English bottles

being paid for by the Scottish

Government and vice versa?

On the

subject of Burns day I had recent

discussions with the Secretary of

agriculture to see if we can lift

the ban on haggis. While the

American president has many faults,

he has one virtue which is that he

has a Scots mother so he may listen

sympathetically. On the issue of the

deposit return scheme, we will be

working with devolved

administrations to make sure we have

a UK wide approach wherever

possible.

The House will certainly

want to be kept informed about the

haggis situation.

I'm sure you would

agree with me that plastic pollution

is one of the great environmental

challenges of today. The Secretary

of State has mentioned a number of

times the importance of recycling so

I'm concerned we have had reports

the Government has been opposing the

new EU targets. Can the Secretary of

State explain why the Government is

opposing the new recycling targets?

We are anxious to make sure that

across the EU we have the right

targets. One of the flaws with the

EU system is because of its reliance

on measuring through weight,

sometimes it incentivise is the

wrong approach is but I'm confident

our own country has gone further

than the European Union suggested on

everything from banning

micro-plastics to indeed introducing

the charge on plastic bags. In all

of these areas we have gone further

and faster than the EU and that is

the ambition this Government has for

a truly green Brexit.

This question

will be put by the right honourable

gentleman for Worley. I wish the

honourable gentleman the Member for

Easington well.

I also hope he

recovers his voice soon. With

permission I would like to take

question two and 14 together. The

Government has made no assessment of

the effect of trail hunting but

anyone who believes an event is

taking place during the hunt should

report the matter to police.

Decisions on the arrest and

prosecution of those taking part in

illegal hunting activities are

matters for the police and

prosecuting authorities.

And the

Minister will be aware that concerns

are growing that trail hunting is

being used as a cover for illegal

hunting. This was recently brought

into focus by the invasion of the

cat sanctuary run in East Sussex by

a pack of hounds from the Romney

marsh haunt so what action will the

Government take against those who

continue to hunt illegally?

I would

point out that the law in this area

is clear and indeed if you look at

the period from 2005 until 2015, 682

individuals were prosecuted and 423

found guilty so the law is clear

here and being enforced, and even

groups like the RSPCA have accepted

this is an enforceable law.

In the

four weeks since Boxing Day at least

four foxes in Cheshire have been

illegally killed by trail hunts so

having withdrawn their plans to

scrap the antihunting Bill, can I

ask the Minister if it's the case

that someone in the Government has

given a secret nod and wink to trail

hunts that they can continue and

kill foxes with impunity?

Nope, that

is not the case. The Prime Minister

has made clear, there will not be

the free vote on fox hunting with

pledged in our manifesto in this

Parliament, but as I said earlier

fox hunting is a matter for the

police and prosecuting authorities

and anybody who believes the law has

been broken should report it to the

police.

Question number three, Mr

Speaker.

In addition to the measures

set out in my previous answers, our

plan also explores how we can better

incentivise producers to design

better packaging and we are working

with the charity on the industry to

increase the amount of recyclable

packaging on the market.

Over 200

members of this House signed my

letter regarding the supermarkets

and what they can be doing to cut

down on or improve their recycling

to meet the targets which my

honourable friend mentioned earlier.

My question is which supermarkets

has the Secretary of State

personally spoken to, to bring them

in line with Iceland which is

apparently a leader in this area?

It

was an excellent letter, and as well

as talking to Iceland I have also

spoken to Marks & Spencer, Waitrose,

Tesco and Sainsbury's. We had a

round table before Christmas, and a

shared commitment was made by those

retailers and others to reduce the

demand for plastic, and of the

plastics we had more were either

recycled or recyclable, and there

was also commitment to work with

local government to make it easier

to recycle.

On the Secretary of

State outline what steps he is

taking to increase the capacity of

recycling facilities and

infrastructure the country?

To encourage more recycling and

capacity in the waste industry.

Thank you. When I was doing my

family shopping in ASDA, Wrexham,

last weekend, I noticed the

appalling level of plastic packaging

on meat proof ducts which seems to

be in place for the ease of the

supermarkets rather than the

customers L the Secretary of State

raise with the supermarkets the

issue with supermarkets relating to

packaging?

I absolutely will. One of

the things I would say is whilevy no

wish to undermine ASDA, I find when

buying meat the best thing to do is

to go to one's local butcher, in

order to buy locally and to invest

in the local economy.

Would the

Secretary of State join me in

congratulating the initiative from

Water UK, to encourage more places

in our high streets to allow more

people to fill water bottles rather

than buying water in disposal

plastic containers.

Water UK's

initiative is wholly welcome. The

idea of re-fill stations is right.

The decline of public water

fountains marked a deeply

regrettable trend. I am glad they

are making a comeback.

I thank the

Secretary of State for his response.

Some 480 million plastic bottles

were sold globally in 2016. What

discussions has the Secretary of

State had with the companies to

reduce or reuse - whatever the case

may be?

We have discussed both with

industry bodies that represent a

variety of manufacturers and also

with individual retailers -

everything we can do. He's right -

the world's conscience has been open

to the scourge of plastic by

documentary makers like David

Attenborough and how it is that we

tread more lightly on our planet.

What he has shown also has been

exemplary.

Thank you. The

Government's consultation closed on

29th December. We had over 70,000

responses to. This clearly, we are

considering those carefully. We want

to act at pace, that is why

officials are acting with

legislation. We need to give due

consider so we get the legislation

to end elephant poaching in Africa

and other parts of the world.

Animal welfare at home and abroad.

The report has revealed enforcement

officers are hindered by the lack of

proper reporting processes. While we

prepare to host the summit, what

assurances can she give me and the

APPG on dangered species of which I

am the chair, given by the

department to address the matter?

Well, Mr Speaker, the United Kingdom

Government has been very active in

taking practical action to reduce

demand, into enforcement. We are

investing in schemes around the

world to reduce this pernicious

trade particularly on t national

wildlife unit. In order to tackle

crime here, intelligence is key. We

will continue to make this a

priority.

I support the Secretary of State and

the minister in this regard. She'll

be aware of the concerns among

antique dealers about the

ramification of ivory from a

historical perspective. Can she

offer any concerns to asuede

concerns that ivory which has been

around for generations in antiques

will be able to continue?

We have to

consider this. In our consultation

we put forward a number of

exemptions we are looking through

that carefully. It is important that

we recognise that having ivory as a

valuable object because it is ivory

is something we don't do in this

country or around the world and that

is why we are taking strong action.

Mr Speaker, I am pleased to say that

the Government will continue to

improve air quality,

Supported by

our clean air strategy, which we are

developing, we will publish later

this year. We have put in place a

£3.5 million plan focussed on

transport. We have targets to reduce

emissions of the five damning -

luants. This is a devolved matter

and I no ethe Welsh Government is

considering how to improve air

quality in Wales.

When will vauks

wagon face action here over the

emissions scandal?

I am not the

minister for transport. We all

recognise how consumers, I expect

people in this House will have felt

duped by the testing or the dodgy

practises that happened. I know

Transport Ministers are actively

engaged on this issue.

Representing a car manufacturing

constituency, I wonder if the

minister would acknowledge that the

UK car industry has made a very

significant contribution for its

investment in low emission cars.

This is a key part of the strategy

of improving air quality.

My Right

Honourable friend is right. We have

invested in order to clean up

transport infrastructure. Through

legislation we will require more

deployment of electric charging

points. I am pleased the money we

are investing is doing things to

help to clean up buses, that is key

to improving air quality,

particularly in our urban accept

terse.

The minister will recognise

there is a crisis now in terms of

our air quality and the way it

impacts in particular on our

children. Some of this is the most

polluting vehicles, heavy goods

vehicles and buses. What is this

Government going to do - this

joined-up Government going to do to

make sure we get those off our

roads?

That is why the Government is

investing money and has been to

clean up to bus vehicle fleet. I am

sure he'll be keen to work with his

council in Greater Manchester in

order to work on the air quality

plan. It is important we have local

solutions which tackle the issues

locally.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The

Government's plans on air quality

are simply inadequate. And it's been

taken back to court yet again. And

with an estimated 40,000 premature

deaths attributed to air pollution

every year, how critical does the

situation have to get before the

Government acts with the High Court

ruling? Will the Secretary of State

and minister support calls to bring

forward a new Clean Air Act to

urgently deal with this matter?

Mr

Speaker, we need clean air action.

We are working with local councils.

I wish she would encourage her

councils to get on with it. I have

had to issue ministerial directions

in order to get councils to bring

forward bans. This is a real

problem. I wish that we could work

on this. What matters is improving

the health of the people we

represent. I am keen to do. That I

will welcome her support in working

Labour-led councils to achieve the

same.

Question six.

Before the

introduction in 2016 only 9% of

householders who previously claimed

for a flood could get insurance

quotes from two or more insurers.

Now costs are down and four out of

five householders have seen price

reductions have seen reductions of

50%.

With flood alerts on the River

Ouse and two years since storm Eva,

residents in leasehold or

accommodation built since 2009 and

businesses have been failed by this

Government in putting appropriate

insurance in place. What recent

discussions has the minister had

about this?

Well, Mr Speaker, I

should point to the record £2.5

billion of flood defences we are

making between 2015-2021, from

people inwork will benefit and

businesses as well. The rules are

specific. After careful

parliamentary scrutiny an approach

was taken so it would not be

included, I continue to meet the

British insurance brooker

association. I've had about five

cases raced raised by Members of

Parliament.

I think they cover

residential properties, but when a

guest house, is that a business, is

it a residence. Can it get

insurance? Is it affordable? This is

where businesses are finding it

difficult - to get affordable

insurance?

I have taken up the issue

of leasehold properties and. The

flood was a big change in this

country. Every householder supports

other householders for a limited

period of time in order to help with

this issue on tackling flood

resilience. It would be a massive

change for businesses in one part of

the country to subsidise other

businesses because of the location

choice of that business. This is not

a straightforward issue. I recognise

and that is why we continue to work

with the insurance industry to

improve cover.

Many in Cumbria who

suffered flooding were affected by

surface water flooding. While the

Environment Agency flood defences

must meet a one in 100 year standard

the water companies are obliged to

meet a one in 50 year standard. What

plans does the minister have to

ensure the water companies are held

to the highest standard so homes and

businesses are not put at risk at

the devastation and misery caused by

flooding?

We are talking about the

protection of their assets. Surface

water is the responsibility of local

councils. We are working on a

strategy, led by the Environment

Agency, who have strategic oversight

of this and we will do more on

surface flooding this year.

As we

have heard, parts of the country,

including my constituency were

affected by both flood warnings and

flooding this week. The 25-year

environment plan gave the Government

the opportunity to think long-term

about responding to flood risk.

Whilst I apreeshiate the risk

management strategy will be updated

in 2019, can the minister explain

why the plan itself fails to include

any proposals or funding reducing

flood risk beyond just the next

three years?

Mr Speaker, when the

Government made this decision to

have a six-year plan on funding, it

dramatically changed the situation

for householders, for businesses and

allowed the Environment Agency to

have long-term plans despite the

hand-to-mouth existence. She should

welcome we have that in place and we

will be working on future budgets in

in time.

The Government is proud of

the high food safety and animal

welfare standards which underpin our

great British produce. We have no

intention of undercutting our

representation for quality by

lowering animal standards in pursuit

of a trade deal.

Does the minister

now the former Education Secretary

would be content to serve school

children American chlorinated

chicken?

The point I make to the

honourable gentleman is when we

leave the European Union, the

withdrawal bill will bring across

all bills including that on

chlorinated chicken. The issue here

is the animal welfare issue and

chlorinated chicken can sometimes

mask those concerns.

British farmers

will be completely undermined if we

have a flood of imports from

countries with lower animal welfare

standards. So, will he now tell the

House that that is to be one of the

Government's red lines in

negotiating?

Well, Mr Speaker, if

the honourable lady listened so my

earlier question, she would have

heard we said we have no intention

of undercutting our quality by

lowering or animal welfare standard

in pursuit of a trade deal.

Thank

you very much. Our plastic bag...

Single use bags used in England and

microbed enforcement is one of the

tough nest the world.

As the

Secretary of State is aware on 6th

February I will be hosting an event

in Parliament together with sky TV

as part of their ocean rescue

campaign, inviting Members of

Parliament to pledge to reduce the

amount of plastic they use in this

place. Does the Secretary of State

agree it is important that

honourable members of this House

take a lead and set an example on

this issue? Will he join me in

encouraging members of this House to

come to that event and cut the

amount of plastic here?

It is an

excellent campaign that Sky have

been running. They are very lucky to

have the honourable, my honourable

friend playing such a role because

he's been an outstanding campaigner.

There is a commitment we can all

make. I know that my honourable

friend the minister has written to

the member to see what the House can

do, Mr Speaker, to ensure we reduce

the amount of single use plastic on

the parliamentary estate.

THE SPEAKER: I know there is a song

in his heart at the revelation of

that development.

Thank you, Mr

Speaker. The Welsh Labour Government

is the third best in the world for

recycling. Far exceeding its targets

this year alone. I am sure the

Secretary of State will join me in

congratulating the Welsh Government

on this. Can the Secretary of State

clarify his position on recycling?

He talks a good talk, but does

little to demonstrate action and is

in danger of missing these vital EU

targets.

Two fishermen lost their lives, an

appeal has being run in order to

raise money in order to support

their families. We know the inherent

risk in fishing and therefore I'm

sure on behalf of the House, here in

deaf and ministers want to thank

those who risk their lives every day

to ensure we can eat fresh fish and

our heart goes out to those affected

by this tragedy.

On my right

honourable friend assure

constituents right across the UK

that whether farmers are arable,

livestock, dairy or Hill, no matter

where they live the new UK wide

frameworks that come as a result of

us leaving the EU will work for all

farmers and constituents.

It's a

good point raised by my noble friend

who does an outstanding job in

working for his constituents, and

I'm looking forward to visiting his

constituency next week. We must

continue to work across the UK to

ensure the interests of all farmers

are respected by the new UK wide

framework.

The 2016 RSPB bird crime

report said there were 81 cases

confirmed of raptor persecution, yet

not one prosecution followed. Could

the Minister explain why and what is

he going to do about it?

We take

this issue seriously, that is why it

is one of the six crime priorities

for the national crime unit. It is

important to get evidence so we can

carry out prosecutions but the

Government cannot direct the CPS to

enforce these prosecutions but we

urge everybody who cares about

wildlife to bring forward that

evidence to the police.

Sir Desmond

Swain.

Will the Minister come and

see what we can do to restore the

even water meadows?

I was in

Hampshire recently, I visited

constituencies to look at those. I

would be delighted to return to

Hampshire and the wonderful New

Forest to look at this particular

matter in June -- in due course.

The

question in fishing is, given the

terms he will take from the European

Union, where is it going and when?

Onto the plates of people from the

Western Isles to the south-west of

England who can enjoy the fantastic

projects that our fishermen... Thank

you, that our fishermen catch every

day.

I'm delighted that Doddington

has been granted permission for

600,000 trees to be planted as part

of our future environment plan.

Doddington is a great example of

modern mixed forestry but we need to

make sure this is not the end but

the beginning. It is vital Forestry

Commission supports those who want

to plant more trees for reasons such

as supporting sustainable river

basins. I would be delighted if the

Minister would come and visit.

I'm

grateful to my right honourable

friend. The Doddington north more

development will be hugely welcome,

not just in ensuring we have more

woodland cover but in providing

habitat for the red squirrel, a

native species who I think we all

want to see better protected. We

will be working with landowners, the

Forestry Commission and others to

make sure there is more forestry

coverage in the years ahead. RBS

decided to close over 60 branches,

will devastate rural communities and

farming communities are worried

about this. The Prime Minister has

washed her hands of this. Will he

meet RBS and make the case for oral

communities?

Access to banking is

vital for the future of rural

communities. May I commend the press

and Journal newspaper for the

campaign it has been running. But of

course all of these colleagues have

been leading a campaign. The

Scottish Government has a

responsibility to do more when it

comes to safeguarding the interests

of Scottish farms and it has fallen

to Scottish Conservative colleagues

to be in the lead in this campaign.

Order! A lot of arm waving and

gesticulation of a very rarefied

character but I would remind the

honourable gentleman he now holds an

illustrious position in the House.

He's trying to become senior states

person some less finger-pointing

would enhance his credentials no

end.

Will the Secretary of State

join me in welcoming the vision for

the new 50 million tree northern

forest and share my delight that the

first tree-planting will be involved

in west?

Indeed, Mr Speaker. This

ribbon of woodland and Forest along

the 62 will be welcome. The

Government is supporting

kick-starting this project with a

grant and we will continue to work

with the Woodland Trust in making

this a reality. I look forward to

heading to Bolton to see where it is

first planted.

There is strong

cross-party and public support for

increasing the penalties for animal

cruelty to five year prison

sentences. I wondered if that could

be done forthwith rather than

waiting for the draft animal welfare

Bill which is subject to

consultation?

I'm grateful for his

support and we will look at any

proposals would come from any part

of the House to try to make sure we

can expedite this legislation.

They

understand the Secretary of State's

concerns about what happens to

plastic waste but would he agree

that it's used by retailers gives

the widest possible choice to

consumers, it prevents food waste

and it's important any measures

don't reduce consumer choice and

don't cause more of our food to be

wasted.

It's a very important point,

while we need to reduce demand for

plastic, it does have a role to play

in the preservation of fresh produce

and in helping to tackle food waste

which is in itself an environmental

and economic mistake.

Across Dulwich

this winter we have once again see

the huge number of Thames water

leaks, many at sites where there

have been repeatedly. Thames Water

has a corporate structure involving

offshore companies on the chair of

Ofwat highlighted the urgent need

for a step change in the way it

operates and behaves. Can the

Secretary of State tell my

constituents when they can expect to

see a winter without the disruption

caused by an organisation not fit

for purpose.

I share her concern,

that is why the chairman of Ofwat

has been doing such a good job in

holding Thames and other water

companies to account. Change is

coming but of course I want it to

come faster.

As the Secretary of

State said earlier, it is vital we

educate our young people about the

dangers of particularly plastics in

the seat. Would he join me in

congratulating Alfie from new

Waltham Academy in my constituency

who has done so much to promote

this, and when he visits the area to

meet the fishing and seafood

community in the not too distant

future, will he perhaps even visit

the Academy?

I would be delighted.

With reference to air pollution, not

a single area of London meets the

World Health Organisation standards

in terms of the damaging type of

particle known as PM2.5. Clean air

action that the Minister refers to

need three sourcing. When will the

Government, instead of passing the

buck to local and regional

authorities, put some money on these

fine words?

Mr Speaker, I think the

huge amount of investment in

improving transport infrastructure

in helping local councils has done

that. When it comes to PM2.5, this

is an issue that affects everybody.

I encourage people to do the right

things in terms of that, don't burn

Wedgewood, think about switching to

smokeless coal, this is where people

can take action now. -- don't burn

wet wood.

One of the reasons our

countryside is so admired is because

of the way it's looked after by

farmers. When will the Secretary of

State be able to say more about the

long-term support for agriculture?

When we think of our admiration and

respect, it is due to the right

honourable gentleman who has been an

outstanding minister and fantastic

constituency member for the

Derbyshire Dales, one of the most

beautiful parts of England, and he's

right that building on the speech

which I gave to the Oxford farming

conference, more needs to be said

and done in order to outline the

framework for farming in the future

and I hope to do so at the NFU

conference where I can celebrate our

farmers who are the best in the

world.

Have it framed and put it up

in the living room!

Haggis

production depends on a strong

Scottish sheep farming sector. Hill

farming is vital to the local

economy of my constituency. While

the Secretary of State might say

this is a devolved matter, come

Brexit will he works with the

Scottish Government in terms of

sharing best practice and knowledge

to make sure the livelihood of my

constituents is safeguarded?

We are

already working incredibly closely

with all the devolved

administrations and indeed have been

ever since the referendum decision

to discuss these very matters.

A

further question, will the Secretary

of State in building the northern

forest asked them to look towards

the National Forest in the Midlands

where 8.5 million trees have been

planted since its inception.

My

right honourable friend makes a

matter of old -- makes an admirable

point and I hope to visit her

constituency and see the work that

has been done. I'm very happy to

acknowledge leadership was shown by

Labour politicians as well. Oh,

forgive me. Labour speaks with one

voice on this matter. Though not

many others. Absolutely, coalfield

communities have helped on their

journey towards revival by

investment in woodland cover and my

right arm of friend the Member for

Loughborough has been a hugely

effective champion for this as well.

I know it will be hard but will the

Secretary of State sign a pledge to

give up on any gimmickry in tackling

things like plastic pollution? He's

going to need a lot of allies and

expertise for the radical revolution

he needs. Will he be serious about

this and get on with the job?

Yes.

Chris Davies.

May I congratulate my

right or ball friend on the work he

has done on the environment but can

he reassure the farmers of the UK

that it is not a case of either

environment or food production but a

partnership of the boats.

I couldn't

put it better myself. Our farmers

are the original Friends of the

Earth and we will not have a healthy

environment unless we also support

those who are our primary food

producers and the stewards of our

beautiful landscapes.

How can we be

confident of the Government's

intention to be robust on air

quality if we leave the EU when

they've refused to introduce a

diesel scrappage scheme for vehicles

and insist on promoting runway three

at Heathrow?

Air quality is

improving, we have made good

progress, but she should welcome the

initiatives we have taken. This week

the House has passed extra powers to

make sure we get... Reduce the

capacity of diesel generators which

will do a lot to improve air quality

across the country.

Questions to the

right