Mayor of London statement on Government air quality plan court verdict

Thursday, 27 April 2017 16:34

In response to the courts verdict the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am pleased that the Government will now have to face its responsibilities sooner rather than later. “Ministers were dragged kicking and screaming to face the huge scale of this health crisis, but rather than take immediate action to protect the public they deliberately used the election as a smokescreen to hold back their plan. “I share the concerns of every Londoner who...Request free trial

In response to the courts verdict the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am pleased that the Government will now have to face its responsibilities sooner rather than later.

“Ministers were dragged kicking and screaming to face the huge scale of this health crisis, but rather than take immediate action to protect the public they deliberately used the election as a smokescreen to hold back their plan.

“I share the concerns of every Londoner who has been repeatedly failed by the government.

“I hope that after this appalling delay, this Government delivers a strong plan to finally get a grip on this issue and urgently introduces a diesel scrappage fund to rid our streets of the dirtiest cars, and provide financial incentives to encourage people to buy the cleanest vehicles.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Background:

The Mayor is lobbying government to take urgent action on air quality including:

Introduce a national vehicle scrappage fund – to help drivers who bought diesel cars in good faith. He has previously written to the Chancellor proposing a targeted, fully-costed, city-led, time-limited approach.
Follow London’s lead and introduce ULEZ-style schemes where needed in other towns and cities across the UK. In London the Mayor has launched a consultation on introducing the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London in

April 2019 - 17 months earlier than previously planned. He has also set out plans to expand the ULEZ up to the North / South circular roads for all vehicles (except taxis) from 2021 and across the whole of Greater London for buses, coaches and lorries from 2020.

Take action to ensure that national policies send the right messages to consumers. Vehicle excise duty (VED) and other fiscal incentives continue to encourage the purchase of diesel cars – and they need to be amended.
Urgently draft new legislation including a 21st Century Clean Air Act, which could provide the overarching framework for action. It should provide a legally enforceable right to clean air for all citizens and the Government should introduce new powers to better regulate all emissions sources, not just road transport. For example, London needs additional powers to manage emissions from the river and construction sites.