Historically, the UK has not been strong on tackling air pollution. We have previous been fined and even sued for failure to reduce our 'excessive' levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2)- mostly from traffic- and have repeatedly had warnings from the World Health Organisation that this one of the largest environmental health risks today. 

I am therefore very pleased to welcome recent steps taken by The Government to provide a diesel scrappage scheme and other incentives to assist with moves towards cleaner, healthier modes of transport. 

As a Conservative, of course I support individual choice, but I believe even more can be done to achieve a healthy environment and reduce the number of premature deaths caused by current levels of pollution in the UK. 

I am fully in support of developing a new clean air act to tackle this and I believe we should also all be working together to call on and encourage local councils to do everything they can for the health and well-being of all of us.