6. 6. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Air Pollution

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:44 pm on 29 June 2016.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 4:44, 29 June 2016

Well, I think it’s about getting the balance between air pollution and noise pollution, but it’s about, as I say, getting that balance. That hasn’t been raised with me before, but I’m very happy to look at it.

Beyond Wales, there are many areas of non-devolved activity that are needed to bring down emissions as quickly as possible. For example, the House of Commons’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has recommended the UK Government launch a diesel scrappage scheme, and that would give grants to cut the cost of a low-emission vehicle for an owner scrapping their diesel vehicle. So, after Simon Thomas’s confession, maybe that’s something that I’m certainly going to watch closely, but maybe Simon Thomas would like to do it also.

Work is also taking place at the current time at an EU level, but, as I’ve already said, we didn’t sign up to EU legislation kicking and screaming: we did it because it’s right for the people of Wales, we did it because it’s right for public health, and I do think this is an opportunity where, going forward, we can look to strengthen it.

I met this morning with the Future Generations Commissioner and, obviously, air quality is something that forms part of the ongoing implementation of the Act. One Member referred to taxis, and something that I discussed with the commissioner this morning was, in Quebec, they have just brought forward a taxi fleet of electric cars. So, again, there are examples. Somebody asked me if I’m looking across Europe; well I’m actually looking across the world to see what examples of best practice we can take lessons from.

Finally, I will be, obviously, supporting the motion, but, in relation to the second amendment from Plaid Cymru, I’m absolutely supporting that. That’s in line with the aims of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 and our recently published active travel action plan. Thank you.