Hansard

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, and to the fact that I am a non-executive director of Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust, which is a company that has investments in electric vehicles, fuel-cell companies and automobiles.

I am delighted to open for the Scottish Conservatives in this important committee debate. However, I must confess that, having been on the ECCLR Committee only since June last year, I have not been party to the full inquiry on air quality, which I regret. Nevertheless, during my time on the committee, I have heard a great deal of evidence—enough to know that this is an issue that requires decisive action.

That was put firmly into context when the committee visited Corstorphine in Edinburgh and heard about the damaging effects on people of poor air quality and unclean air, which brought home to me the sheer misery for communities. It was particularly instructive to speak to school children about their journeys to and from school. If anything should persuade us of the need for action, it is the effects of poor air quality on the next generation.

It is very worrying that areas of Scotland’s three largest cities exceed the legal limit of 40 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per cubic metre, including there being a level of 58 micrograms per cubic metre in Hope Street in Glasgow. To someone who represents the Highlands and Islands region, which has some of the cleanest air in Scotland, it is striking to be presented with such evidence about our major conurbations.

I thank my ECCLR Committee colleagues and convener for the work that everyone has done to reach this point, and I pay tribute to the clerks and staff who work with the committee for putting together the extensive report. The Scottish Conservatives welcome the report’s conclusions, and I believe that there is a clear consensus across the chamber that we should take real and ambitious action on our environment, which is welcome. I also welcome the cabinet secretary’s acknowledgement that the matter is cross-portfolio; we must think about it across the portfolios.

I will focus on low-emission zones. The Scottish Conservatives broadly support the proposals in principle, and the effects that they seek to achieve. It is abundantly clear from the committee evidence that tackling air pollution in Scotland’s towns and cities will have immeasurable benefits for communities, and will help to tackle some of the most prevalent diseases in our society, including lung diseases.

It is encouraging to see leading organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses coming up with solutions so that businesses can begin to adapt to the changes before they come fully into force. The FSB recently suggested that businesses should check the emissions standards of their vehicles, invest in vehicles that comply with Euro 6 and Euro 4 emissions standards and investigate scrappage schemes for old vehicles. We need to continue to raise awareness of the proposals so that Scotland is not just ready for such measures but gets behind them. There is a huge job to do in persuading the public to back the measures; I acknowledge the cabinet secretary’s remarks about the importance of communication.

Although we understand the need to make progress, we have concerns that are shared by members across the political spectrum. Until recently, the Government had not provided clear information on technological infrastructure and timescales for implementation. The ECCLR Committee inquiry notes that there are concerns about the tight timescale for the introduction of LEZs and about whether local authorities have the resources to bring the zones fully into operation. We know from London’s experience that it can take up to 18 months to implement a similar system. That was despite the fact that London could piggy-back on the existing camera network and back-office system that were used for the congestion charge—which, incidentally, took about two years to implement.

Since the deadline for the Glasgow LEZ of December 2018 was announced, we have expressed concern that there is simply not, over the eight months to the end of this year, enough time to put in place the appropriate infrastructure and back-office systems. Timescales for implementation of LEZs should be clear and realistic in order to allow sufficient time for industry, residents and small businesses to adapt. The Government must also ensure that plans for LEZs in the remaining three cities are properly articulated and communicated and that they are practical and achievable.

Lack of detail about plans and costs will create insecurity. I accept and welcome the recent announcement of £10.8 million, but we were concerned to learn that, in 2016, almost 800,000 privately owned diesel cars were not compliant with Euro 6, and that almost 400,000 privately owned petrol cars were not compliant with Euro 4, which equates to 53.3 per cent of the total private-car stock that is registered in Scotland. Although not all those drivers will be affected by the proposed LEZ areas, it is clear that a significant proportion of the public will be required to comply.

We are also concerned that the current approach that is taken to LEZs may create unnecessary confusion about high costs for small businesses—in particular, bus and freight operators. That consternation was recognised in the ECCLR Committee. It is worth setting out the concerns of, for example, the FSB, McGill’s Bus Services and the Road Haulage Association, which said that it is worried about the “financial burden” that will be placed on businesses.

As I have said, we welcome the recent funding announcements, but further support will be required to give confidence to an industry that is at times sceptical, and a public who are not yet prepared for the LEZs that are coming. Although we have many legitimate concerns, we are in principle supportive of the changes, and we look forward to working with all parties to deliver an LEZ system that works for drivers and the public.

In conclusion, I say that I have scratched the surface of the report and concentrated on LEZs; I hope that other members will talk about active travel. We welcome the report and its recommendations. We are committed to reducing Scotland’s carbon footprint, to reducing dependency on fossil fuels, and to tackling the scourge of poor air quality.

The report is one step forward, but we need greater clarity from the Government on how many of its proposals will be met and implemented. Only then will we be able to see, and reap the benefits of, a cleaner Scotland.