In marking Clean Air Day 2021, Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS – the Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Climate Change – has written to the First Minister to urge his administration to review the proposed regulatory timetable as set out under his White Paper consultation and to implement the recommendations of a new study, co-authored by Public Health Wales, to help boost active travel.
Given the lack of a substantive answer on Tuesday, the Member for Aberconwy has also asked the Welsh Government to undo a real-terms funding cut to clean air action that has been witnessed during this financial year. The £3.4 million revenue funding and £17 million capital funding, allocated for air quality action in 2021-22 is a fall on the previous year.
Commenting on her letter, Janet said:
“We should recognise that, on this Clean Air Day, there is a genuine cross-party consensus that action and legislation is needed. In building positively on this momentum, I have written to the First Minister to ask for more investment and a review of the proposed regulatory timetable.
“As I made clear during FMQs on Tuesday, we have a Welsh Government that has declared a climate emergency but has now delivered a real-terms cut in funding to clean air action. This contradiction provides little comfort as we look to build back greener and so this must be addressed.
“There are other steps that can be taken in the here and now, too. As a new study found that prioritising access to active travel will be integral to any plan to reduce exposure to air pollution, I have asked the administration to implement its recommendations as a means of encouraging the use of green transport alternatives.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- Please find a copy of Janet’s letter to the First Minister attached.
- During a meeting of the Senedd’s CPG on the Clean Air Act for Wales last week, Janet Finch-Saunders MS was elected as a joint Vice-Chair.
- The study referenced can be found here.
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
