MPs’ round-up
Bill to curb pollution is truely a breath of fresh air Since lockdowns first began, snatching a breath of fresh air in the Somerset countryside has become a glorious escape. A moment to reconnect with the real world. Yet for many less fortunate than us, that lungful of air isn’t so fresh. Astonishingly, air pollution is now the leading environmental threat to human health in the UK. Cleaning it up is an imperative, and we now have that opportunity through the new Environment Bill. The Government’s Clean Air Strategy was described by the World Health Organisation as ‘an example for the rest of the world to follow’, and the strategy indeed took the world by the hand to lead by example: from making sure new wood-burning stoves are cleaner and more efficient, to supporting farmers to use low-emission equipment. But, as we learn more about the impact of air pollution on our health, it’s clear the job
Somerton & Frome MP David Warburton isn’t done. Dirty air causes between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths every year, and last year the inquest into the death of nine-year-old Ella KissiDebrah ruled that toxic air from traffic was a cause of death, the first such ruling in the UK. If current levels persist, we’re estimated to see 2.5 million new cases of related health conditions such as asthma, strokes and heart disease. UNICEF calculates that one in three children in the UK are currently growing
up exposed to illegal levels of pollutants. And as well as the harm to individuals, the wider effect on public services and the economy is staggering. In total, air pollution is estimated to cause six million sick days each year and has a total social cost of £22.6 billion. Little wonder that two thirds of the public say they’re unwilling to return to prelockdown levels of pollution, having recently inhaled something noticeably cleaner. The landmark Environment Bill, which I hope will pass into law early in this new parliamentary session, will place the environment at the centre of decision making across government. An indispensable part of the bill focusses on setting an ambitious, legally-binding target to reduce fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the most harmful type of air pollution. Now I’m urging the Government to even further,
and to act on the recommendation of the coroner following the inquest into the Ella Kissi-Debrah’s death, by enhancing the Bill to enshrine in legislation the World Health Organisation’s current guideline limits on PM2.5. in line with the campaign by the Chair of the Defra Select Committee, Neil Parish MP. Make no mistake, this isn’t just about breathing in noticeably cleaner air. The health benefits from hitting that WHO target would be worth £6.8 billion per year. And that’s without considering the costs to the NHS and social care system from air pollution-related illnesses which we could avoid. 0I hope the Government builds on its global environmental leadership and paves the way to us all – not just those lucky enough to be here in Somerset - being free to truly enjoy our green spaces. In pure fresh air.
Our covid heroes need to be recognised As a local MP and in the course of my small part in the vaccine roll out, I have witnessed first-hand some of the heroic efforts played by volunteers and key workers. I’m therefore rolling out a scheme of my own to recognise and thank those who have acted as Covid Heroes over the last year. We all want to move on from the events of the last year and achieve a ‘new normal’. However, it’s right to recognise those in our communities who went the extra mile. They embody the local and national ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ spirit which has been key in keeping communities together during Britain’s largest peace time crisis. 66
MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison I’m inviting constituents to nominate volunteers, key workers, businesses, schools or other local organisations for activities which might include helping the
vulnerable by delivering food, medicines, and other essential goods to those unable to travel to shops; or providing support to the lonely and isolating. It could involve helping young people through the provision of online schooling, tutoring, or extracurricular activities while school premises were closed. It might mean keeping spirits up through community activities, lockdown quizzes or creative social event or adapting to the challenges of lockdown and the changes in demand for goods and services - pubs doing takeaways or deliveries for example. If you live in South West Wiltshire or would like to nominate an individual or
organisation based in the area for my Covid Heroes certificate of appreciation, please visit the ‘campaigns’ section of my website (www.andrewmurrison.co.uk /campaigns). It will only take a few minutes to submit your nomination. Back in the House, I got in early in the debate on the Queen’s Speech. I loath contributing online so attended in person. I raised social care, thrown into sharp relief by the crisis. I feel strongly that we need to end this parliamentary session with a concrete plan for adult social care that will end the appalling care lottery that has been a consequence of separating health and social care in the 1940s.
