'There is no one to-day who would doubt that air pollution is a social evil and, being a social evil, should be dealt with immediately and drastically.' 

Those are the words of Gordon Macdonald, Flintshire-born former miner, MP and Governor of Newfoundland. Macdonald was speaking in the House of Lords, but he was doing so in 1955. As his words show, recognition of the dangers of air pollution are not new. Foremost among these dangers is air pollution’s impact on our physical health, and I am glad the Welsh Government recognises this by linking the two issues in its national strategy.

Members may have seen the briefing from British Lung Foundation Wales containing the stark reality of the matter. Air pollution is linked to lung cancer, and poorer lung function for people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Links have been made between air pollution and cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and type 2 diabetes. Children in particular are at risk, with air pollution affecting development and resistance to infection.

Nearly 1,300 early deaths per year in Wales can be attributed to air pollution. Public Health Wales has described this as a public health crisis, second only to smoking and more concerning than obesity or alcohol. We have good public awareness of the dangers of these, backed up by first-rate public health campaigns. Air pollution must be a similar priority, and I welcome point 2(d) of the motion, which commits the Government to addressing this. I also welcome Plaid Cymru’s amendment 3, as health boards have a key role to play in this locally.

There's also an important social justice dimension to this issue, with poorer communities suffering most from air pollution. Indeed, the 10 per cent most disadvantaged parts of Wales are affected by five times the carcinogenic emissions of the 10 per cent least disadvantaged. A 2016 Journal of Public Health study cited by the BLF concludes that deprivation, health inequalities and air pollution are linked, with air pollution compounding deprivation-health associations.

Again, this is nothing new. If we go back to Gordon Macdonald’s speech, he referred to a journey to the south Wales Valleys. He described a narrow valley, containing two parallel roads and a railway line. In a 2 acre area, he noted

'seven tall chimneys belching forth thick smoke. On the railway there were three railway engines in keen competition, trying to belch more smoke than the seven chimneys; and the hundreds of miners' houses were beating both in belching smoke into this narrow valley.'

This will be a familiar image to anyone who grew up in the industrialised parts of Wales. In Cynon Valley, a particular culprit was the phurnacite plant in Abercwmboi. At its peak, this produced 1 million briquettes of smokeless coal annually. Welsh steam coal was crushed and combined with tar that was then preheated to remove most of the smoke.

Whilst those more affluent communities elsewhere in the UK that could afford it benefited from the phurnacite, it had a ferocious impact on the local community. It was they who suffered from the dust, smoke and fumes belched out into the atmosphere. Many of my constituents who worked there continue to feel the effects of ill health associated with that.

The heavy industry that was once most closely associated with this air pollution has now largely gone. Its absence has led to environmental improvements; the lush greenness throughout much of the Valleys testifies to this. Simultaneously, we have also placed greater importance on protecting our environment. This has been aided by the development of more mature and empathetic legislation from all levels of government. But there are still harmful factors that we must address.

I tabled a statement of opinion on this a few weeks ago. In it, I urged Welsh Government to introduce a network of clean air zones across the most polluted areas of Wales. I am glad that part 2(a) of the motion commits the Welsh Government to this. I look forward to the consultation on the framework that will underpin the clean air plan when it becomes available next year. We must also recognise that this is an issue where our concerns and intervention cannot stop at our borders. Many of the tools needed to really improve our air are held elsewhere. My statement of opinion also called on the Welsh Government to support calls for the UK Government to develop a diesel scrappage scheme. It is good that point 3 of the motion addresses this, and in fact goes beyond it in calling for a system of milestones so that we can monitor progress.

We cannot forget that we do still have progress to make. Air pollution costs the UK £20 billion a year, and hundreds of lives in Wales alone. Groundbreaking legislation like the environment Act and well-being of future generations Act offer a strong, positive framework. But as we withdraw from Europe and the significant role it has held in this field over past decades, our resolve cannot waver and we must strive for continued improvements.