Volume one of the Environmental Audit Committee report criticised the Government for not tackling the nation’s poor air quality.

It also said the UK should be ‘ashamed’ of its poor air quality which was adding to potentially fatal illnesses such as asthma, heart disease and cancer.

The report also says some 50,000 people die every year due to illness linked with poor air quality.

Chair of the committee, Tim Yeo MP, said: “Air pollution probably causes more deaths than passive smoking, traffic accidents or obesity, yet it receives very little attention.

“In the worst affected areas this invisible killer could be taking years off the lives of people most at risk, such as those with asthma.”

Volume two of the report, containing oral and written evidence, will be published at 11am on Tuesday (March 23)

Luke Walsh

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