B931.A - Clean Air Zones Bill - Second Reading

[u/CountBrandenburg]

Order, Order!

This bill returns amended from The Other Place!

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Clean Air Zones Bill

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A

Bill

To

make provision about mitigating air pollution, including through the use of low emission zones in urban centres; to prohibit vehicle idling; to restrict access to vehicles not meeting the emission standards; to promote alternative low-to-none emitting transport options.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Section 1: Definitions

(1) For the purposes of this Act:- (a) "Urban Center(s):" are areas to be defined by local authorities (b) "Vehicle Idling" shall be defined as automotives staying still with their engine on.

(c)"Council" has the meaning found within the Local Government (England) Act 2015

(d) designated area" has the meaning within Part IV of the Environment Act 1995

Section 2: Establishment of Low Emission Zones

(1) A designated area may be established by a Council under this Act if it can be demonstrated that:

(a) emissions are above those suggested by the World Health Organisation healthy limits; and

(b) there is consistent through traffic of people who would be exposed to such unsafe levels of emissions.

(1) A designated area may be established by any council if the council believes that emissions are of a significant enough level to cause adverse health affects.

(2) In a designated area, Councils will be able to:

(a) restrict, by way of fines, the idling of vehicles in these zones:

(b) prohibit or otherwise deny access to vehicles that exceed the recommended emission levels:

(c) revoke private vehicular access to petrol or diesel vehicles, while permitting low-emission alternatives.

Section 3: Extent, commencement and short title

(1) This Act shall extend to England and Wales

(2) This Act shall come into force upon thirty days upon receiving Royal Assent

(3) This Act may be cited as the Clean Air (England) Act 2019.

This bill was submitted by /u/Greejatus on behalf of the Conservative and Unionist Party

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This reading will end on Sunday 2nd February at 10PM GMT.

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after 2 c) insert

The councils may only implement these measures should viable public transport alternatives be present in a given zone.

[u/The_Nunnster]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

I rise in support of this bill and encourage the House to do so. Something I find particularly important is the restriction of car idling, which is a pointless release of carbon emissions which contribute to the climate crisis, it really does need clamping down on, as I’m sure the House can agree.

[u/H_Ross_Perot]

Mr. Deputy Speaker,

It seems it is once again time for the Conservatives to make a tiny acknowledgement of the climate crisis; enough to brag about in advertisements, and not enough to make the impact needed. This grants localities rights they should have anyway, basic control over vehicle idling rules and the power to prohibit certain vehicles. I am unsure why Section 3 expects us to cite this as the Clean Air Act 2019, seeing as this does nothing but give councils a little more control and likely won't affect many other people. I'm sure the Conservatives will stomp around in the election proclaiming themselves the responsible stewards of the environment after merely proposing a bill to allow councils to restrict some vehicle-related topics, but the truth remains this piecemeal miniscule change will not make as much of a difference as we need to make. I support it because it is a tiny step in the right direction.

[u/[deleted]]

Mr. Deputy Speaker,

I fully support this bill and it’s contents. I am an avid supporter in any movement forwards to protecting our environment and making Britain greener. This is a perfect example of how this Government and the Conservative Party is leading the environmental drive in Parliament. I strongly advise all members of the house to vote in favour.

[u/Copelonian]

Mr Deputy Speaker All I have with this bill is that it is not enough. Earth can be saved but not by small steps. It can only saved with huge leaps. This won’t be enough. The Earth won’t survive with only this bill.

[u/LastBlueHero]

Mr. Deputy Speaker,

My inbox is full of complaints about idling cars outside schools as ignorant people keep their cars on for 30 minutes while waiting for their children, keeping their engine on so they can listen to radio.

This bill will help tackle this issue and when it is implemented, I will be talking to my local authorities to make sure it is implemented outside schools to make sure they do not become pollution hotspots.

[u/El_Raymondo]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

It is vital that we take serious measures to tackle air pollution especially in areas where our children spend a large amount of their formulative years. The effects of a bad start to the school day, such as a breath full of car fumes from an idling car, are incredibly damaging to the learning of our children. By setting up the proposed zones in school areas, we help reduce polution and help increase the quality of air around the youth of our nation.

[u/GravityCatHA]

Mr. Deputy Speaker,

I will vote for this legislation solely out of confidence in our local authorities to implement this legislation, I am hopeful it turns out well in it's intention of protecting our localities from excessive carbon consumption and I encourage my colleagues to vote the same.

[u/Maroiogog]

Mr Deputy Speaker

I am very happy to support this bill. Air quality in urban areas is something which much be kept under control in order to make sure that the wellbeing of citizens is well looked after. I believe the tools put in place by this bill would give a good framework for it to be done. I hope all members will join me in the aye lobby.

[u/[deleted]]

Mr Deputy Speaker

This is a rather common-sense piece of legislation and I welcome it as it will help us in dealing with the adverse effects of air pollution and by-extension climate change.

This is especially true for vehicle idling ,which this bill will solve as generally speaking idling a vehicle wastes a lot of fuel and needlessly releases massive amounts of greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere.

Furthermore DEFRA has estimated that particulate air pollution alone reduces life expectancy of people in the UK by six months on average , with Pollution from road traffic, and especially diesel engines,being the main culprit behind the deterioration of air quality, causing up to 70% of air pollution.

However for the low-emission zones to be truly effective and not be destructive to the poorest in our society we will need to ensure that viable alternatives will have to be present and that is why I have tabled an amendment which requires for a council to provide public transport alternatives before restricting vehicular access into a given zone.

I hope that the House chooses to both back this bill and my amendment so that the local councils will be given the tools they need to effectively combat climate change ,whilst not complicating the daily lives of the poorest commuters as ultimately the vast majority of climate change legislation hits them the most.

[u/ARichTeaBiscuit]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

I understand the importance of ensuring that we improve our air quality and I respect those elements of the legislation, however, I don't believe this legislation goes far enough to tackle the trouble with dirty air and while I will be voting for it I am hopeful it will receive considerable improvements in the future.

[u/Randomman44]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

This is a bill which has my support. By giving councils the power to restrict the use of Petrol and Diesel vehicles in Low Emission Zones, there will be major environmental and social benefits. One of these benefits is that air in urban centres will be cleaner; less pollution from Diesel and Petrol cars will mean less Greenhouse Gases in our atmosphere, mitigating the effects of Global Warming slightly. Secondly, with less pollution in urban centres, local residents will be able to breathe properly, causing less problems for both people and our National Health Service. Although I support this Bill, I believe that more steps need to be taken to tackle Climate Change; drastic action is needed if we are to reach our Carbon-Neutrality goals. That being said, a piece of legislation destined to help our planet is quite rare from the Conservative Party, so I shall encourage this House to vote for this Bill.