The UK government ’s formal response to calls from MPs for stronger action to combat air pollution has been criticised by campaigners . MPs warned in April that pollution in the country ’s cities was a “ public health emergency ” and called for clean air zones , the right for all cities to charge polluting vehicles and a diesel scrappage scheme . “Despite the mounting evidence of the dangers people face having to breathe our illegally dirty air, the government is refusing to take the bold action needed to cut the 40,000 early deaths from air pollution each year in the UK,” said a spokeswoman for Friends of the Earth. The government ’s response , which came as warnings were issued on high levels of air pollution around Hull and across northern England , has limited the number of cities that can charge such vehicles to five and ended the diesel scheme .
The UK government ’s formal response to calls from MPs for stronger action to combat air pollution has been criticised by campaigners . MPs warned in April that pollution in the country ’s cities was a “ public health emergency ” and called for clean air zones , the right for all cities to charge polluting vehicles and a diesel scrappage scheme . The government ’s response , which came as warnings were issued on high levels of air pollution around Hull and across northern England , has limited the number of cities that can charge such vehicles to five and ended the diesel scheme .