Barry Sheerman

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Barry Sheerman
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    • Diesel Particulate Filters – My Ten Minute Rule Bill

      Posted at 11:45 am by aaronhorsley, on Feb 9, 2022

      On Tuesday I had the privilege of presenting a Ten-Minute Rule Bill to the House of Commons. A Ten-Minute Rule Bill is a way that MPs can argue for a certain law to be made or changed. It’s very rare that MPs get the opportunity to present such a Bill, which means the decision over what issue to focus on is very important. I put a lot of thought into it and decided to present a Bill that would update the MOT test for diesel cars, specifically in the testing of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs).  

      Why have I chosen this issue? Because I believe air pollution is one of the greatest public health crises of our time and that good policy can help to reverse some of its distressing implications. A DPF is a filter that captures and stores exhaust soot to reduce emissions from diesel cars. If the DPF is faulty, a single vehicle can produce the same amount of pollution as a three lane, 360-mile-long traffic jam. That is the distance from Huddersfield to Land’s End. Shocked? So was I.  

      Diesel exhaust is a class 1 carcinogen. This means it’s one of the most dangerous types of particulates emitted into the atmosphere. According to the World Health Organisation, it has a dangerous impact on the body, penetrating deep into the respiratory system, causing lung cancer in humans.  

      Cleaning up our countries air will require a long, focused, and well-resourced campaign with cooperation between central, local, and devolved Governments. Tackling air pollution is no easy fix but despite this, there are some quick wins to score that will have a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing. My Bill is one of those wins.  

      With high-tech testing equipment available at a reasonable cost, now is the time to update the MOT test. Its already being done in the Netherlands, where a DPF efficiency test is being introduced that will identify faulty filters that emit a high level of dangerous particulates. In the UK we’re moving in the right direction, but more must be done. In 2014 and 2018, regulations for DPFs have been updated as we’ve uncovered more about their impact on dangerous emissions. In 2022, its time we act again.  

      My Bill calls for the Government to update the MOT test to include an efficiency test for DPF filters with an emission limit set at 250,000 particles per cm3. This would identify dangerous filters and ensure that they are taken off the road and fixed. The policies and frameworks are there, all the Government needs to do is update the law.  

      Air pollution is a public health crisis that is causing thousands of lives to end early in the UK with millions more worldwide. It adds billions in costs to the health service and can severely impact people’s wellbeing. On Tuesday I presented my Bill to Parliament to call on MPs to get behind my campaign to clean up our air. I’ve also tabled the following Early Day Motion, calling on MPs to support my Bill. You can read it here. The costs are too great not to act. If my Bill becomes law, we will have made a significant step in protecting everybody’s inalienable right to breathe clean air.   

      If you would like to watch the full footage of my speech in the House of Commons, you can do so here. 

      Posted in Uncategorised | 0 Comments | Tagged Air Quality, clean air, climate crisis, Huddersfield, parliament, Road, WCRAQ, westminster commission
    • Green Investment in the Autumn Budget

      Posted at 11:42 am by barrysheerman, on Sep 23, 2021

      Many constituents have been in contact with recently me to express their view that the Chancellor of the Exchequer needs to secure the future of green investment. In the upcoming spending review to be made by the Chancellor, one of the areas that he needs to prioritise is an overhaul of how homes across our heated. Central heating is a complicated but critical part of the UK’s decarbonisation efforts and requires investment in energy sources such as hydrogen and biomethane. Energy efficient heat pumps are also critical and as present, this Government is failing and if we proceed on this path, we will not reach the critical targets we need to if we are to slow and reverse the environmental damage that is being done.

      The upcoming spending review and the Autumn Budget is a key opportunity for this Chancellor and this Government to address this and make some progress on this front. The report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has declared that we are running out of time.

      Climate change and the protection of the environment are among my central parliamentary focuses and I believe passionately that if we are to make the changes necessary to alter our current, perilous, course, the Government – both at home and internationally – must be bold, decisive and ambitious. We have yet to see that, and the commitment to address this issue, from the Chancellor.

      Posted in Uncategorised | 0 Comments | Tagged climate crisis, Huddersfield, parliament, sustainability
    • Huddersfield Sustainable Towns

      Posted at 12:28 pm by thomascritchley, on Jan 13, 2020

      We are currently facing one of the biggest challenges of humanity: The climate crisis. It is upon us and, while government keeps delaying true and meaningful action, Local Authorities around the country have already started taking the necessary steps in the right direction. Last year, Kirklees joined more than 200 councils around the country in declaring a Climate Emergency and outlining plans for tackling some of the most pressing environmental issues at our time at the local level.

      Sustainability has been at the heart of my interests from the very beginning of my political career. It has always been my understanding that sustainability encompasses both the protection and improvement of the natural environment, with the aim to build healthy and thriving communities that make a place attractive for people to live, work and study in. It is with this conviction that I embarked on the project of turning Huddersfield into a truly Sustainable Town capable of setting an example for others in the country – and why not the world? – to follow. As your Member of Parliament I will do everything within my power to ensure our natural environment, as well as our streets, businesses and local identity will flourish into this new decade and beyond.

      There is no shortage of partners for this endeavour. Key figures from across the Council, the University, the local businesses and retail communities have manifested an interest in working together towards achieving the goal of turning Huddersfield into a sustainable town. Everybody with an interest in seeing this happen is welcome to join me on this adventure. How many trees can we plant? How can we best take care of the spectacular landscape that surrounds us? Where do we need to focus in order to improve our recycling rates, guarantee energy efficiency and improve our transport system? What will it take for our beautiful buildings to be in the best shape they could possibly be? What actions can we take to ensure our community is a strong, thriving and prosperous one?  If you have any suggestions, I want to hear from you! So please leave comments or get in touch with my office with your thoughts.

      There are no simple answers to these questions, and while the challenges ahead of us are big, so will be the rewards for our town. I am hugely grateful to have been re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Huddersfield; I will continue working on making Huddersfield a better place for all of those who live here, and I warmly invite you to join me in making Huddersfield a truly Sustainable Town.

      Posted in Uncategorised | 0 Comments | Tagged climate crisis, Huddersfield, kirklees council, sustainability, sustainable towns
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