Part of 1. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:52 pm on 7 March 2017.
Well, it would be a reduction in the amount of PM10s in the atmosphere, and potentially PM2.5s as well. If we look at reducing emissions—I mentioned the consultation earlier on and our response to that consultation is to be published shortly. What is our contribution? Looking at the south Wales metro, looking at the metro in the north-east of Wales to provide an alternative to car use—which means a reduction in the amount of exhaust fumes coming out of cars—to make sure people have that alternative, promoting the active travel Act so that more people are able to cycle as well—again, not using cars.
The problem is, of course, that with the new changes to vehicle excise duties that are going to be coming in, if I remember rightly, after the first year of a car’s existence, every car, regardless of its emissions, will pay the same road tax. Now, we’ve had a system for years where those cars that pollute the most pay the most. Now we’re going to a system where it’s a flat fee. I think that’s wrong. I can understand the UK Government having to change the system, otherwise eventually hardly anyone will pay road tax—I understand that. But I think it’s wrong to move to a system where, effectively, if you have a car that has a huge amount of emissions, you pay the same as somebody whose car is very very light in terms of emissions. That won’t help air quality in Wales.