Government resists calls to bring forward 2040 petrol and diesel ban

A cross-party group of MPs has said that serious concerns remain over the extent of the government’s commitment to improving air quality.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA), Environmental Audit (EAC), Health and Social Care and Transport Committees launched a joint 'super-inquiry' amid concerns over the UK’s air pollution plans, accusing the government of treating air quality as a “box-ticking exercise” after setting out a series of recommendations in their joint report in March.

In its response, the government said it will make better use of local authority air pollution data, improve oversight on air quality spending, replace the patchwork of air quality legislation with a “single coherent framework” and halve the number of people living in areas exceeding World Health Organisation limits for particulate matter by 2025.

However, the suggestion to bring forward the proposed 2040 ban on petrol and diesel car sales, has been resisted.

Neil Parish MP, EFRA Committee Chair said: “Whilst we appreciate the initial positive steps, we are concerned that the government is shying away from the bold action needed to tackle this crisis.

“Our report called on government to promote cross-departmental working, force car manufacturers to contribute to a Clean Air Fund and commit real financial support to local authorities breaching NO2 limits. We see little evidence of this happening.”

Mary Creagh MP, EAC Chair said: “We need cities where people can move and can breathe so it is worrying that the government is dragging its feet on air quality, even in the face of court action by the European Court of Justice. It is also concerning that the government is not ready to demonstrate global leadership by forcing manufacturers to produce only clean vehicles before 2040.”

A government spokesperson said: “Air quality has improved significantly but there is still much more to do. We have put in place a £3.5bn plan to reduce harmful emissions and will introduce primary legislation to clean up our air. By ending the sale of conventional new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040, we are acting faster than almost every other major developed economy.”