Lib-Dems quiz Chris Grayling on ‘discredited’ Heathrow Airport data

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling
Carl Court/Getty Images
Kate Proctor14 November 2016
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Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has been urged to explain why the Government continues to rely on “discredited” air quality data to justify a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Liberal Democrats, including former Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable, say the Government has been warned that modelling used by the Department for Transport to calculate air pollution is out of date.

Sir Vince said: “The Government is relying on discredited modelling to claim EU air pollution limits could still be met.

Chris Grayling must clarify whether he still stands by these estimates. If not, we need to know how EU limits that protect people’s health will be met.”

Lib-Dems including former secretary of state for energy and climate change Ed Davey, have written to Mr Grayling to say that unless his department reassesses the data, expansion plans should be dropped.

A Government spokeswoman said a third runway at Heathrow will comply with UK air quality limits. She also defended their use of data.

The Government’s national air pollution plans were deemed illegal by the High Court and it found a use of flawed modelling. The same system has been used for Heathrow.

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