Breach Of Air Quality Laws In London

EDM number 2445 in 2007-08, proposed by Edward Davey on 06/11/2008.
Categorised under the topics of Environmental protection and Pollution.

That this House notes that the UK has been in breach of air quality laws for particulate matter in London since 2005 and that, as of 1st November 2008, had missed its final chance to seek a delay against legal action; further notes that these European air quality laws are designed to tackle pollution and stop the harmful effects of particulate matter on people suffering from asthma and other respiratory diseases; further notes that the Government had been warned by the Campaign for Clean Air in London and by the European Commission that it would become liable for immediate prosecution if it failed to notify a request to the European Commission by 31st October 2008 for a time extension to show how it planned to comply in the future with these air quality laws; further notes that the Air Quality Minister, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, admitted this failure in the House of Lords on 4th November 2008; believes that if the Government is unable to comply with air quality laws it agreed to and has known about since 1999 then its credibility on its intention to tackle climate change is seriously undermined; and therefore calls on the European Commission to begin urgent legal action against the Government to obtain long overdue compliance and to bring some hope for the thousands of Londoners suffering from asthma and other respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

This motion has been signed by a total of 18 MPs.