... but diesel cars are let off the hook

THE Clean Air Strategy does too little to tackle pollution from cars, lorries and vans, it was claimed last night.

Neil Parish, Tory chairman of the Commons environment committee, told fellow MPs it was crucial to cut the levels of particulate matter from road traffic.

‘The Government should reduce the need for private vehicles in congested urban areas by improving public transport, and also making sure that public transport is much cleaner,’ he said.

Claire Haigh, of the campaign group Greener Journeys, said: ‘We are extremely disappointed that ministers have again made no attempt to tackle the root cause of the UK’s air quality crisis – the number of diesel cars and vans on our roads.

‘Diesel cars and vans are the biggest contributors to nitrogen oxide pollution from road transport, together accounting for 71 per cent of emissions, compared with just 6 per cent for buses and coaches. Yet, the Government has repeatedly refused to take any meaningful action.’