The Environment Agency is consulting on a “polluter pays” levy on water companies for sewage discharges to recover the costs of its enforcement activities.
Millions of pounds collected by fining polluting water companies will go towards waterways, the government has announced – but campaign groups say it will not be enough.
Keir Starmer has reportedly abandoned Labour’s suggestion of introducing clean air zones like London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone following his party’s by-election defeat in Uxbridge and Ruislip.
A greater proportion of government revenue should be raised through taxes on activities that can have a socially harmful effect, says Bright Blue’s Patrick Hall.
Air pollution does not respect borough boundaries, so the government should take the lead on tackling it instead of dumping responsibility on councils, says Debbie Wood.
Local authorities have been given eight months to produce initial plans to tackle nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution produced by diesel-fuelled vehicles.
